01-05-2025
Israeli tourist asked to sign war crime declaration at Kyoto guesthouse
An Israeli tourist was asked to sign a document stating that he had not committed war crimes when he checked in at a Kyoto guesthouse in April, prompting the Israeli ambassador to Japan to lodge a protest against the Kyoto governor for discrimination.
According to a letter sent by the ambassador and obtained by The Japan Times, when the tourist checked in at the Wind Villa guesthouse in the city of Kyoto, he was given the document to sign after presenting his passport to the manager.
The letter stated that the tourist was told that only Israeli and Russian nationals are asked to sign the form.
'This discriminatory act, based solely on nationality, caused the guest significant emotional distress,' Israeli Ambassador to Japan Gilad Cohen said in the April 22 letter to Kyoto Gov. Takatoshi Nishiwaki, which also stated that it violated the hotel business law.
'We trust that you will take the necessary steps to help ensure that such cases do not occur again and that Kyoto remains a welcoming destination for all visitors,' the letter stated.
The Wind Villa guesthouse said in an open letter to Cohen on X that it requires all guests who it identifies as 'potentially having been involved in war crimes' to sign the document.
'We truly wish for you to understand: staying in the same place as someone who may have committed war crimes causes significant psychological stress for other guests and staff, especially in small hotels like ours where many spaces are shared,' the letter read.
The guesthouse's letter said individuals subject to such requests include those from Burundi, Central Africa, Ethiopia, Israel, Mali, Myanmar, Palestine, Russia, Syria and Sudan who have served in military or paramilitary organizations in the past 10 years.
A document at the Wind Villa guesthouse asking foreign tourists of certain nationalities to confirm they were not involved in war crimes |
The Israeli Embassy in Tokyo
According to Israeli news outlet Ynet, the tourist served as a combat medic in the Navy reserves during his military service in the Israel Defense Force.
Those who state they are not involved in the military will not be asked to sign the document, Wind Villa said, adding that the purpose was to ensure a safe stay for other guests and not due to discrimination.
'I have a duty as the facility manager to make every reasonable effort to ensure that all guests can enjoy a safe and comfortable stay. Even in cases where guests can refuse to sign the pledge, we do not deny them accommodation,' the guesthouse said.
After Kyoto Prefecture became aware of the incident, it instructed the Kyoto city government, which was in charge of such matters, to investigate.
The city subsequently determined that the guesthouse was not in violation of the hotel business law, which stipulates that hotel operators should not turn down reservations 'without good reason,' because guests were allowed to stay even if they did not sign the paper, a city official said. However, the city told the guesthouse that it was 'inappropriate' to make the request.
Last year, an Israeli national was denied accommodation at a different hotel in Kyoto on the grounds of his nationality, causing the city to issue a verbal warning.
