This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A foundation commentary has credited a Japanese lawmaker with saying "what the West won't." And that is that a nation must not rewrite its laws to accommodate Muslims.
The stunning verdict was unleashed in a statement made by Mizuho Umemure, a member of Japan's upper house.
The question arose because Muslims there, in a nation dominated by Shinto and Buddhism, are insisting on having more land for their burial locations.
The island nation already has a 99.9% cremation rate for several reasons, the scarcity of land, the possibility of hygiene problems when earthquakes churn up burial grounds and expose bodies, and more.
She suggested that Japanese traditions must be the priority and if someone dies in Japan, but wants a particular burial, the body can be repatriated to a home country.
A statement at the RAIR Foundation noted her dedication.
"Japan's famously reserved political culture erupted in rare bluntness this week when Mizuho Umemura, a member of Japan's upper house and rising figure in the Sanseitō party, delivered a firm rejection of expanding Muslim burial plots in Japan. Her remarks, now going viral, came during a November 27, 2025, session of the Health, Labour and Welfare Committee," it explained.
The report added, "She said openly what most Japanese politicians avoid acknowledging: Japan's funeral practices are not simply 'tradition' — they are rooted in public health, national history, and cultural continuity. And they will not be rewritten because of foreign demands. Within hours, millions of Japanese praised her for saying what they feel but cannot express under modern speech restrictions: Japan will not be bullied into changing its identity."
She noted Muslim calls for "dedicated burial sites" but that raises questions of public health, land use and social harmony. Further, she said, "cultural" agendas actually impact Japanese society as a whole."
'The problem with existing society and Muslim people – what happens in Europe and America – we have to learn from it," she warned.
The commentary noted that Miyagi Prefecture in Japan recently rejected plans for a Muslim burial site, and while, "media spin portrayed it as 'xenophobic,'" the objections aligned with important factors.
Those include public-health concerns, environmental impact, and a refusal to alter local norms for a religious minority.
