Israeli diplomat protests Kyoto guest house policy of requiring guests to swear they have never committed war crimes. A Japanese guesthouse claims to be being pressured by local officials to modify a policy requiring guests to swear they have never been involved in war crimes, after complaints from Israel’s ambassador.
Israeli Ambassador Gilad Cohen has charged the WIND VILLA guest house in Kyoto with discrimination after an incident in April in which an Israeli tourist was asked to sign a declaration saying he had never “been involved in any war crimes that violate humanitarian and international law.”.
In an X post over the weekend, Cohen characterized the request as a “blatant act of discrimination against Israeli citizens and an unacceptable attempt to equate them with war criminals”. I urge the Kyoto City authorities to deal with this case promptly,” Cohen stated. We have faith that the Japanese government will continue to promote the values of respect and hospitality for which Japan is renowned – and make every visitor welcome and secure.”
Kishi said he started requesting guests sign the pledge around six months ago due to global events. I was genuinely troubled by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Israeli airstrikes into Gaza,” Kishi said to Al Jazeera. I simply wanted to take some steps in our interests, and in the interest of guest safety, too, and to demonstrate our opposition to war crimes and international abuses.”
Only four individuals have thus far signed the pledge, Kishi said – three Israelis and one Russian. The Israeli traveler in April was the first to object to the request, he said, though a number of guests were taken aback by the document. Generally, they have not complained, they just looked a little puzzled,” Kishi said.
“The last one was very puzzled and agitated. But finally, he signed and said he hadn’t done any war crimes.” In a description of his encounter with the Israeli tourist on X last month, Kishi depicted the man as an otherwise pleasant guest and conceded to having felt a “little sorry for him”.
