Pakistan inaugurates mosque in Japan, Tokyo says structure built without approval

Pakistan’s embassy in Japan has distanced itself from a mosque project in the Japanese city of Kawagoe after local authorities said the structure was built without the approvals required under Japanese law.

The controversy has attracted attention as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Japan, Abdul Hameed, attended the mosque’s inauguration earlier this year.

However, the embassy has clarified that the envoy participated in the event after organisers assured him that all necessary permissions had been secured.

According to Japanese media reports, the mosque is located in Kawagoe, in Japan’s Saitama Prefecture, on a 4,500-square-metre plot classified as mountain forest land. The site falls within an urbanisation control area, where construction is generally prohibited unless special permissions are granted under local planning regulations.

Kawagoe city officials stated that the mosque was constructed without obtaining the required clearance under Japan’s City Planning Act. In an official statement, the municipal government said the building had been erected in a regulated development control zone without permission.

Property records reportedly show that the land changed ownership in March 2025, passing from a Fujimi-based real estate company to a firm registered at the Kawagoe address.

The issue has also triggered debate within Japan’s Pakistani community. Shakeel Sheikh Mohammad, a representative of Yashio Masjid, criticised the project, saying places of worship should be developed in coordination with local authorities and residents.

Following media reports, Pakistan’s embassy issued a statement urging Pakistani nationals in Japan to strictly comply with local laws, especially regarding the construction of religious facilities. The embassy stressed that no construction project should begin without securing all necessary permits from local governments.

In a separate statement issued on May 31, the embassy reiterated that it had no connection with projects that fail to comply with Japanese regulations. It also called upon community members to cooperate fully with local authorities and maintain transparency with residents regarding such developments.