News Kawagoe City orders demolition of illegally constructed mosque

[thomas]

A mosque built in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, without the necessary approvals and now facing a demolition order, has drawn growing attention after it officially opened with the participation of Pakistan's ambassador to Japan. The Ramadan Grand Mosque was constructed on a 4,500-square-metre site. The land is classified as mountain forest inside an urbanisation control zone, where strict development restrictions apply.

Grand Ramadan Mosque in Kawagoe (photo credit: Naganuma Jin).

Photographs of the site show a large, white-domed structure standing in open countryside, surrounded by fields and wooded areas. Kawagoe Mayor Hatsue Morita said this week that the city could not accept the current situation and was working to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. According to Sankei News, Morita described the mosque as an illegal structure built without permission in a controlled development area. She reportedly said the city wanted the building demolished as soon as possible and was considering how to proceed with guidance and enforcement measures.

The dispute has become one of the most closely watched planning conflicts involving a mosque in Japan in recent years. It has also highlighted the country's growing Muslim population and the difficulties local governments sometimes face when balancing religious facilities with zoning and development regulations. City officials said they first learned of the project in October 2024 after residents reported construction of a steel-frame building. By the time inspectors arrived at the site, the exterior was nearly complete.

"The building (mosque) was constructed in an urban development control area where construction is generally prohibited unless specific permissions are secured under the City Planning Act," the municipal government said in an official statement. "The building in question was constructed without the city's permission." The city officials said the representative of the company promised to demolish the building within five years, but instead of demolition, an opening ceremony was held in April. Images and videos posted online showed a large gathering of worshippers and community members celebrating the opening of the facility. The event was attended by Pakistan's ambassador to Japan, Abdul Hameed, who praised the project as a symbol of friendship and religious inclusion, BBC Urdu reported.

Illegal mosque, mystery builder create standoff in Saitama | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Japan could force demolition of ‘illegal’ mosque inaugurated by Pakistan’s ambassador

City mayor says she wants the mosque demolished as soon as possible

www.independent.co.uk

Mosque Built Without Permit Ordered for Removal in Kawagoe | JAPAN Forward

The city says the mosque was built without authorization in a strictly restricted zone, and is not being treated differently as a religious building.

japan-forward.com

The statement of the Pakistani Embassy in Japan:

The Embassy of Pakistan earnestly requests and emphasises to the Pakistani community residing in Japan that they fully comply with Japanese laws in all matters, particularly with regard to the construction of places of worship. No construction project may be initiated without obtaining the necessary permits from local governments. The Embassy of Pakistan has no connection to any such projects, especially those that do not comply with local government laws. This includes the event held in Kawagoe on April 3, 2026, for which the Ambassador of Pakistan accepted the invitation on the basis of information that all required permits under Japanese law had been obtained. Information regarding the legal aspects of all such projects should be communicated to all community members and residents of the area. The Embassy of Pakistan urgently requests that all relevant members of the community fully cooperate with Japanese authorities and comply with Japanese laws in all circumstances, particularly in connection with projects of this nature. The Embassy of Pakistan in Japan strongly urges the entire Pakistani community in Japan to comply with Japanese laws in all matters, including the construction of mosques. It is essential that no construction be undertaken without first obtaining the necessary permits from local governments. The Embassy of Pakistan in Japan has no involvement whatsoever in any projects that do not comply with the laws and regulations of the respective local governments. This includes the event held in Kawagoe on April 3, 2026. The Ambassador accepted the invitation to this event on the explanation that all permits required under Japanese law for this building had been obtained. Information regarding legal compliance for such projects must be shared transparently with all Pakistanis in Japan as well as with neighbouring residents. Moreover, Japanese laws and regulations must be complied with in all circumstances, both during the planning stage and afterwards.The Embassy of Pakistan in Japan calls on all Pakistanis in Japan to promptly cooperate with Japanese authorities to ensure compliance with Japanese laws in all situations, particularly in cases such as the one described above.

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[mdchachi]

Hard to believe they built it without the necessary permits.

 

[Ukigumo]

So they built without all the required planning permissions? At the very best, retrospective planning permission might be appropriate otherwise I say, pull it down and at the commissioner's expense!

 

[mdchachi]

The inspectors didn't think to come out and check what was going on when they started clearing out the trees? If I got the location correct (35.8582872,139.4683178):

4/2020:

5/2020:

3/2024:

6/2025:

 

[thomas]

The inspectors didn't think to come out and check what was going on when they started clearing out the trees?

According to the article published in Japan Forward, municipal authorities were alerted by residents around 2024. I don't think they proactively scan the surrounding land for topographic changes, such as swaths of forested land being cut down.

The city first became aware of the structure in October 2024 after receiving a report from local residents, by which time the exterior was already nearly complete. Officials repeatedly requested that construction be halted. According to the city, workers claimed not to understand Japanese, and staff had to visit the site multiple times to explain that construction could not continue. Because the building was unregistered and ownership was unclear, the city initially struggled to identify the responsible party. In March 2025, ownership of the land was transferred from a real estate company in Fujimi City, Saitama Prefecture, to a company headed by a Pakistani national based in Kawagoe City. That same month, the company submitted a remediation plan stating that it would proceed with removing the structure.

Mosque Built Without Permit Ordered for Removal in Kawagoe | JAPAN Forward

The city says the mosque was built without authorization in a strictly restricted zone, and is not being treated differently as a religious building.

japan-forward.com

 

[Ukigumo]

I don't think they proactively scan the surrounding land for topographic changes, such as swaths of forested land being cut down.

Then they need to ask communities to report any building etc and follow up reports. In the UK, council planning intentions are posted on lamp posts around the area the intended work is about to be commenced. It allows the public to raise concerns and even objections. However, they're small signs, rely on people noticing them when walking around and sometimes they're removed by the applicant to prevent objections being lodged!

 

[thomas]

On Wednesday, Kawagoe Mayor Morita Hatsue said the mosque had been locked and that the city was now holding direct discussions with the Pakistani Embassy to resolve the dispute. Morita said she intended to pursue the matter as quickly as possible and was prepared to meet the Pakistani ambassador herself if necessary. The mosque was constructed in an urbanisation control area, where development is generally prohibited without official permission.

The city discovered the illegal work in October 2024 after a tip from residents. By then, the exterior of the mosque was nearly complete. The land-owning company in March this year promised to demolish the religious facility. But it went ahead with the opening ceremony in April. Morita described the company's move as a "regrettable" act of defiance.

The city held the company responsible for the construction. In March, Kawagoe received a correction plan from the operator, which included a commitment to demolish the building by March 2031. Morita, however, stressed that the deadline did not amount to permission for the mosque to continue operating until then.

Kawagoe shuts illegal mosque, discusses issue with Pakistan | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[thomas]

Kawagoe has instructed the Pakistan-linked company that owns the land to remove the mosque, but there is still no clear prospect of resolving the dispute. Speaking at a regular press conference on 10 July, Mayor Hatsue Morita said city officials had conducted a voluntary on-site inspection on 2 July and that the city would deal with the matter "strictly" to bring it to an early conclusion.

The mosque consists of four structures, including dome-topped buildings, on a site of about 4,500 square metres in the Shimoakasaka district. The area lies around four kilometres southwest of Kamifukuoka Station on the Tobu Tojo Line and is surrounded by farmland. It is designated as an urbanisation control zone, where new development is strictly limited.

The video below gives a good sense of the mosque's size:

]

Kawagoe Seeks Removal of Unauthorized Mosque

An unauthorized Islamic prayer hall has been built on land in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, where new construction is generally prohibited, prompting the city to order the landowner to remove the structure.

newsonjapan.com

 

[Ukigumo]

Where's the car park?

 

[Petaris]

Where's the car park?

Pretty sure it is that blacktopped section near the road but the lines haven't been painted yet.

What I want to know is if this even had building inspections done? I know nothing about building in Japan but knowing Japan in general there must be inspections during the build process. So if it was inspected during phases of the build how did the city not know about it? If there were no inspections then it should be closed as the buildings may not meet the required building codes.

 

[Ukigumo]

Pretty sure it is that blacktopped section near the road but the lines haven't been painted yet.

Well I hope they have 'disabled only' slots

What I want to know is if this even had building inspections done? I know nothing about building in Japan but knowing Japan in general there must be inspections during the build process. So if it was inspected during phases of the build how did the city not know about it? If there were no inspections then it should be closed as the buildings may not meet the required building codes.

This is very. Japan is an earthquake-prone country after all.

I'd've thought the builders would've asked to see the plans, stamped with associated planning permissions (probably a hanko stamp) before even commencing the build and procuring building materials etc. This whole situation has a foul smell associated with it!

 

[Petaris]

I'd've thought the builders would've asked to see the plans, stamped with associated planning permissions (probably a hanko stamp) before even commencing the build and procuring building materials etc. This whole situation has a foul smell associated with it!

In the article it said the builders / construction crew didn't speak Japanese, or at least pretended that they did not. That also seems like something that would be unusual for Japan. You would expect that, at the minimum, a Japanese construction manager would have been on-site. Having an, apparently, all non-Japanese construction crew with no Japanese language ability seems really out there for Japan. I would have thought that the building plans, required postings, etc would all be in Japanese. I would have also expected that before any building even started there would have been some sort of environmental survey, approval of the plans, water, sewer, and electric hook-up plans, etc. Governments love paperwork and Japan in no exception. There should have been all sorts of flags on this before building could even get started.

 

[Ukigumo]

It all seems pretty suspicious…

 

[Ukigumo]

I nearly bought a grade 2 listed house, much in need to modernisation, when I moved down to Devon because the estate agent and their bulding contractor said I shouldn't worry about it's grade 2 status because as long as I don't attract attention by altering the outside appearance of the building, inspectors are highly unlikely to request an internal inspection. The estate agent himself said he'd modernised his grade 2 listed building (new bathrooms) with no issues. Very dodgy advice but exactly the sort of thing these people will say to make a sale.

I wonder if the non-Japanese speaking builders said a similar thing to Kawagoe's Muslim community?
فکر نہ کریں۔ یہاں سفید رنگ کی گنبد والی عمارت پر کسی کی توجہ نہیں جائے گی، اور چونکہ یہ خوبصورت ہے، اس لیے وہ اسے بننے دیں گے۔
fikar na karin. yahan safid rang ki ganbad wali amart par kasi ki tojah nihen jaye gi, or chonkah ya khoobsurt hay, is liye wah ise banane din ge.
(Do not worry. Nobody will notice a white washed, domed building out here and because it's beautiful, they'll allow it.)

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

Have you ever heard the expression, "it's better to ask for forgiveness than for permission"? This whole project seems like a clear example of that kind of thinking. It's a shame it got so far, but it needs to be torn down.

 

[Ukigumo]

I have heard that expression but as a person 'in charge', I never really understood it. To have a subordinate sanction something and then say, 'Sorry I did that, but it's nice isn't it? We should keep it!" would enrage me I'd undo the act and ask the subordinate commit seppuku to prevent others making un sanctioned decisions!