TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo has denied rumors that Indonesia will stop sending migrant workers to Japan in 2026. The rumor had previously circulated widely on social media and YouTube channels managed by Indonesian residents in Japan.
Muhammad Al Aula, Coordinator of the Social and Cultural Information Function at the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, stressed that there has been no official statement from the Japanese government indicating any policy to ban Indonesian workers.
"This is misinformation, it was never conveyed by the Japanese authorities, and it has never been discussed by the two countries," Al Aula told Tempo on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
He explained that the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Japan, which has lasted for 67 years, remains strong, including in the area of labor cooperation.
As of December 2024, 199,824 Indonesian citizens were living in Japan. This figure marks an increase of over 15 percent in just six months. Most of them work in various sectors, while around 7,000 are students.
Community Dynamics and Misperceptions
The rumor gained traction following the circulation of videos showing members of the Indonesian martial arts group Persaudaraan Setia Hati Terate (PSHT) gathering and displaying banners in public areas in Japan.
This sparked speculation that the behavior of certain groups might lead to a future ban on Indonesian citizens.
Al Aula clarified that the Indonesian community in Japan is active and diverse. It includes religious groups, cultural associations, alumni networks, and hobby-based communities. "Culturally, Indonesians tend to gather according to their backgrounds," he said.
According to the embassy’s records, there are 119 active Indonesian communities in Japan, including eight martial arts groups, one of which is PSHT.
Al Aula stated that these communities regularly organize events, both indoors and outdoors, and most of them obtain necessary permits from local authorities.
"For some of their activities, they obtain permission from local authorities and coordinate with the Japanese police," he added.
No Reports of Violations
On the issue of alleged legal violations involving martial arts groups or Indonesian communities in general, Al Aula said there have been no formal reports submitted by Japanese authorities.
He acknowledged that some of the PSHT gatherings shown in viral videos did take place and have been acknowledged by the group.
However, the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo has not received any official complaints regarding these activities.
"We have never heard of any legal or formal reports to the Indonesian Embassy regarding assumptions or indications of violations committed by PSHT," said Al Aula.
He further noted that PSHT has admitted to its mistakes related to displaying banners and gathering in the streets. The group has also issued a formal apology to the embassy.
"They admitted it, and then conveyed an apology through the Indonesian Embassy. They themselves expressed a commitment to self-correction, which is currently being and has been implemented," he said.
The Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo also reminded all Indonesian citizens in Japan to maintain good conduct and respect local social and cultural norms.
"Everyone, when visiting any country, including foreigners visiting Indonesia, is certainly obliged to comply with the regulations or provisions in the visited country," Al Aula concluded.
