Unauthorized Mosque in Saitama Sparks Outrage After Owner Claims "It Was Already There"
An unauthorized mosque built in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, has sparked intense debate on Japanese social media after the city issued a correction and removal order to the Pakistani-owned company that owns the land. Public outrage has particularly intensified over the company's excuse that the building "was already there from the beginning." According to news reports and social media posts, the mosque building is completely unregistered. During its construction phase, Kawagoe City repeatedly issued stop-work orders, which were reportedly ignored under the pretext of "not understanding Japanese." The construction went ahead to completion regardless. In response to the city's demolition guidance, the company claimed, "It was there originally, but we will do our best to address the removal," while also telling media outlets, "We want to remove it, but we have no money," further fueling widespread public distrust. Online users have reac...