Why This Topic Landed in Japan

The Mainichi Shimbun ran a piece arguing that Muslim (Islamic) burial "does not violate" Japanese culture, even though cremation accounts for 99.9% of funerals in Japan. Plans for Islamic burial grounds in places such as Hiji, Oita Prefecture, have drawn concern from local residents worried about soil and water contamination, so a major newspaper taking the defending side touched off a heated argument over multicultural coexistence, public-health risk, and whether residents' wishes were being ignored. The 99.9% cremation norm and hygiene fears fused with a strong "do as the locals do" instinct, and the sense that a paper that usually says "listen to residents" was ignoring them here amplified the anger.

Key Reaction Themes

  • Hygiene and environmental concern — Cremation is treated as a public-health achievement, and burial is seen as a soil- and water-contamination risk.
  • The "when in Rome" norm — A majority view that those living in Japan should follow Japan's rules, and if not, do it in their home country.
  • Distrust of the media — The Mainichi's defense was attacked as "ignoring residents" and a "double standard."

What Japanese Netizens Are Saying

Backlash against the Mainichi's defense of Muslim burial

Against the major paper's pro-burial framing, rejection became almost uniform — driven by hygiene, social norms, and media distrust.

Sources: Mainichi, 2ch

Comments:

  • "Then what's the problem with cremating Muslims? If they want burial, they can do it in their home country."
  • "It's simply unhygienic."
  • "No — the locals don't want it, and that's the answer."
  • "Yeah, it should be properly banned by law."
  • "Let's bury the bodies on the Mainichi Shimbun's own property."
  • "Normally they act all liberal and say 'listen to the local residents,' but this is too convenient. That's exactly why they're hopeless."
  • "Reciprocity is the basic principle. Islam itself isn't about multicultural coexistence, so Japan has no need to accommodate it either."
  • "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
  • "The climate doesn't suit it. It'll cause epidemics."
  • "If they don't like cremation, they're welcome to scatter the ashes at sea."