Opponents and Supporters of Fujisawa Mosque Construction Plan Clash Near Station
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On April 12, 2026, over a mosque construction plan underway in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, residents opposed to and in support of the project each held protests near JR Fujisawa Station, resulting in a clash between the two sides.
The city approved the land development for this plan in July 2025, and an information session for residents was held in February 2026. Opponents have continued their campaign citing concerns such as burials on the site and noise during prayers, and flyers containing content described as stoking anxiety have reportedly been distributed.
Other outlets, including The Asahi Shimbun, have reported on the same nationwide trend under headlines such as "Mosques increasing nationwide, alongside opposition movements," suggesting that this is a structural issue not confined to Fujisawa City. For the city's official position, please also refer to related coverage (official Fujisawa City document).
Opposition movements against the construction of religious facilities often surface in the form of concerns over noise or land use, but are also said to sometimes be underpinned by anxiety over religious and cultural differences. Fujisawa City has issued an official position on this plan stating that it is a lawful development undertaken by a private business operator (related coverage).
Similar friction over mosque construction has also been reported in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture (related coverage), making the building of relationships between mosques, which are increasing nationwide, and local communities an ongoing challenge.