Sikhs in Japan : Small Community, Big Stories

Among all the countries I’ve studied, Japan is perhaps the first where I found no illegal Sikh immigration network — just a quiet, law-abiding community carving its place through learning, work, and discipline.

Today, Japan’s Sikh population stands at roughly 500 people, mostly concentrated in Tokyo (200–300), Kobe (40–50 families), and Ibaraki. That’s a steep fall from the 20,000–30,000 temporary Punjabi workers who once came during Japan’s 1990s economic boom. Yet, the Sikh spirit here endures — in classrooms, restaurants, IT offices, and gurdwaras that hum softly under neon skylines.

This article traces how Sikhs first arrived in Japan, the lives they built, the faith they kept, and the stories that reveal how deeply Sikh values can thrive even in the world’s most homogeneous society by globalsikhiwiki.com Team

How Sikhs First Came to Japan

Sikhs began arriving in Japan in the early 20th century, mostly as students and professionals. One of the first known visitors was Puran Singh, a brilliant Punjabi scholar and scientist who studied in Tokyo before World War I.

Later decades saw Sikh soldiers interacting with Japan during World War II — some fighting against Japanese troops under British command, others aligned with the Indian National Army (INA) led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, which had links with Japan’s anti-colonial efforts.

After the war, Sikh migration continued in small trickles: students, traders, and skilled workers. Unlike large communities in the UK, Canada, or East Africa, the Sikh presence in Japan remained scattered and low-profile — yet persistent.

Notable Sikh Stories from Japan

1. Puran Singh — From Punjab’s Fields to Japan’s Laboratories

Puran Singh — From Punjab’s Fields to Japan’s Laboratories
Prof. Puran Singh, a brilliant Sikh chemist from Lahore, who stepped onto Japanese soil in 1899 (or 1900, per varying accounts) to study pharmaceutical sciences at Tokyo Imperial University.

In the late 1990s, while most Punjabis dreamed of Canada or the UK, Professor Puran Singh (1881–1931) became the first known Sikh to set foot in Japan. Born in Salhad near Abbottabad, he showed early brilliance in science and spirituality. After completing his F.A. examination in 1899 from DAV College, Lahore, his academic excellence earned him a scholarship to study industrial and pharmaceutical chemistry at Tokyo Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo), where he arrived around 1899 or 1900.

At just twenty-two, Puran Singh was deeply inspired by Japan’s discipline, national pride, and devotion to progress, seeing in them reflections of Sikh ideals like hard work and selfless service. He faced language barriers and cultural differences but immersed himself in study and reflection. During his stay, he encountered Zen Buddhism, which profoundly influenced his spiritual outlook. For a short period, he even lived as a monk under the name “Taikan”, blending Japanese spiritual philosophy with Sikh mysticism in his early writings such as Atman.

Returning to India in 1903, he joined the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun as a chemical examiner, where he conducted pioneering research on essential oils and plant chemistry, publishing papers that earned international attention. Yet, his heart remained equally devoted to poetry and philosophy. His later works, including The Spirit of Oriental Poetry, The Sisters of the Spinning Wheel, and The Temple of Humanity, revealed a rare harmony between science and spirituality — a theme rooted in his years in Japan.

Prof. Puran Singh often spoke of Japan with admiration, seeing it as a nation where “every hand worked as if in prayer.” He urged Indians to learn from Japan’s spiritual discipline, honesty, and sense of collective purpose. His experience in Japan reinforced his belief that true knowledge unites rather than divides — a belief deeply aligned with Sikh philosophy.

He continued teaching and writing until his death in 1931, leaving behind a legacy as a scientist, poet, and philosopher who bridged the cultural and spiritual worlds of India and Japan. Today, he is remembered as the first Sikh voice in Japan, a pioneer whose journey symbolized Sikhism’s universal spirit and intellectual depth.

“I did not leave India,” he once said. “I carried it within me — even when I walked the gardens of Japan.”

2. Gursewak Singh — Born in Japan, Fighting for Belonging

Gursewek Singh of Japan
Gursewak Singh was born in 1999 in Matsudo, Chiba—a quiet suburban town east of Tokyo. In 2016, at 17, immigration raids loomed large, and he was asked to leave Japan because his parents didn't have valid visas.

Born in 1999 in Matsudo, Chiba, Gursewak Singh grew up as one of Japan’s few Sikh children. His parents, refugees from Punjab in the early 1990s, lived on provisional release — unable to work legally or access healthcare, yet determined to raise their son with dignity.

Despite hardships, Gursewak thrived in Japanese schools, wearing his patka proudly and speaking fluent Japanese. In 2016, at 17, his family faced deportation. International Sikh organizations, including UNITED SIKHS, petitioned for his citizenship — though Japan’s immigration laws denied it.

His struggle inspired new debates on children’s rights and migrant inclusion, leading to an education fund established in his name in 2019. Today, Gursewak lives in Tokyo, working part-time and serving in langar. “Japan is my Guru’s vast ocean,” he says softly, “endless — but I float on faith.”

Gursewak has written to Japanese authorities to recognize him and his family as residents in a country where he and his younger twin siblings were born, and his parents, natives of India, have lived in Japan since the 1990s. His parents are on provisional release status, which means they can’t work. There is no birthright in Japan like in the USA. Today, Gursewak lives in Tokyo, studying, working part-time, and serving in langar. United Sikhs has raised a fund in his name called “Gursewak Singh’s college fund” for his education.

Sources: Japan Times | UNITED SIKHS | 

3. Sarabjit Singh Chadha — The Sikh Voice That Won Japan

2. Sarabjit Singh Chadha — The Sikh Voice That Won Japan
Sarabjit Singh Chadha is a Sikh businessman and singer from Delhi who became the first non-Japanese singer of the traditional Japanese music genre, Enka, in the 1970s. After traveling to Japan in 1968 for agricultural training, he was captivated by Enka's emotional similarities to Indian music.

Born in New Delhi in 1952, Sarabjit Singh Chadha made history as Japan’s first non-Japanese Enka singer — a genre known for its deep emotional melodies.

Arriving in Japan in 1968 under an OISCA agricultural program, the young Sikh discovered Enka music and recorded the hit single “Omokage no Hito” (The Person in Memory) in 1975, which sold over 180,000 copies.

Visa issues forced him to leave Japan, but he returned in the 1980s and rebuilt his career, performing in both Punjabi and Japanese. His music became a bridge between Punjab’s warmth and Japan’s emotion, showing how art can transcend borders.

Sources: Wikipedia | India Times | Hindustan Times | Sakoya Foundation

Gurdwaras and Sikh Institutions in Japan

Guru Nanak Darbar Sahib, Kobe

Guru Nanak Darbar Sahib, Kobe
Guru Nanak Darbar Kobe- Newly Built Gurdwara Sahib in Japan Its wonderful to see Sikhi flourishing in different parts of the World! gurdwara first was started in house of Mr Motwani, in 1966 land was purchased for Sikh Gurdwara and subsequently proper Gurdwara was established.

After the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923, some Sikhs living in Yokohama moved to Kobe and started new businesses. This cemented Kobe’s position as a hub for the Sikh community in Japan. Sikh religious services initially took place in the home of a Mr. Motwani in downtown Kobe. In 1966, a committee of community members purchased land to create a permanent gurdwara. They bought the house of a Mr. Sant Singh Bhateja and renovated it to create the present-day Guru Nanak Darbar Sahib.

After Sardar Bahadur Singh Khurana, who had managed the daily services for many years, passed away, the gurdwara’s key was entrusted to a committee. The gurdwara has provided langar (a free community meal) every Sunday since its inception. A Japanese woman was hired to maintain the gurdwara and cook the weekly langar. This is One of Japan’s oldest Sikh hubs. The families here preserve visible Sikh identity and host annual Vaisakhi programs.

Tokyo Guru nanak Darbar Gurdwara (Sikh Center, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo)

Guru Nanak Darbar Myogadani Heights B1, 3-5-4 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-0012, Japan
Guru Nanak Darbar Tokyo gurdwara was established in 1999 to serve the local Sikh community. Services (diwan) are typically held one or two Sundays a month. A community kitchen (langar) serves free meals to all visitors.

Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar – Tokyo’s only Gurdwara. The Sikh community in Tokyo is tiny. Given the small size of the community, there aren’t enough people to do seva 7 days a week, and so the Gurdwara only opens on a Sunday. This means there is no Akhand Paath and so Sukhmani Sahib is done instead. The congregation is a mix of Punjabi, Indian, and local Japanese people, creating a diverse and welcoming environment. thetravellingsingh.com

There isn’t any Sikh architecture or an external Nishaan Sahib, so it can a little tricky to locate. The Gurdwara is located on the basement floor of a pretty low-key building but as soon as you walk in you can hear the Gurbani and smell the langar and it’s easy to follow the sounds and smell to the right location. japantimes.co.jp

What Sikhs in Japan Do: Sikhs in Japan's Tech and Multinational Sectors: A Niche of Opportunity Amid a Tiny Diaspora

Sikh working in IT in Japan
Many Sikhs today work in technology, multinational firms, or corporate roles where religious dress is respected.

IT & Engineering Professionals : Japan's Digital Deficit Meets Sikh Skillsets

With an aging population and low birth rates, Japan faces a projected shortfall of 450,000 IT workers by 2030, fueling demand for multilingual, tech-savvy migrants. Many Sikhs arrive as IT engineers, software developers, or data analysts, drawn by firms like Rakuten, Sony, or global giants (e.g., AWS, Salesforce, Oracle) that sponsor visas and hire overseas talent. These roles value Sikhs’ proficiency in English, Punjabi, and often Japanese, plus their work ethic rooted in Sikh principles of kirat karna (honest labor). For instance, Tokyo’s Sikh professionals often work in AI, cybersecurity, or regtech—hot sectors projected to grow 15–20% annually through 2030. linkedin.com

Religious Flexibility in Corporate Japan

Unlike small/medium enterprises (SMEs) where blue-collar Sikhs (often “mona” or shorn-haired for assimilation) face rigid grooming norms, IT and MNCs offer leeway for keshdhari (turban-wearing) Sikhs to maintain uncut hair and kirpans. This cultural accommodation—rare in Japan’s homogeneity—makes tech appealing; companies like Fujitsu or Hitachi prioritize diversity for global teams, viewing Sikh resilience (e.g., from Punjab’s entrepreneurial spirit) as an asset. Anecdotes from the Tokyo Guru Nanak Darbar gurdwara highlight engineers commuting from Yokohama to Silicon Valley-esque hubs in Shibuya, blending seva (community service) with code sprints. linuxfoundation.org

Migration Pathways to Stability

Post-1990s visa crackdowns, skilled tech migration surged via bilateral India-Japan agreements (e.g., 2016 talent partnership), placing over 400 Indians—including Sikhs—in technical roles annually. Many start as students (echoing 1960s pioneers like enka singer Sarbjit Singh Chadha) before transitioning to MNCs, achieving family sponsorship and long-term residency—unlike undocumented workers in restaurants or construction. This upward mobility contrasts with broader diaspora trends, where Sikhs elsewhere (e.g., Canada) dominate trucking or real estate. asia.nikkei.com

Challenges and Resilience

While rewarding, these paths aren’t seamless: Language barriers (JLPT N2 certification often required) and subtle xenophobia persist, but Sikhs counter with community networks at gurdwaras like Kobe’s Guru Nanak Darbar, where IT pros mentor newcomers. Ultimately, this tech foothold embodies Sikh chardi kala (eternal optimism), turning Japan’s “lost decade” labor gaps into a bridge for the Khalsa’s global wanderlust. As one anonymous Tokyo-based Sikh engineer shared on forums, “In code and circuits, we find Waheguru’s design—precise, interconnected, infinite.” wikipedia.org

Assimilation and Identity

Older Sikhs in Kobe often maintain turbans and beards, while younger ones in Tokyo adapt to local norms. Some trim their hair to blend in at workplaces.

Still, many Japanese neighbors respect the Sikh work ethic and discipline, and interfaith events have increased local awareness of Sikhism. Researchers such as Masako Azuma (Taylor & Francis Press) note that Sikh-Japanese families often become cultural bridges, teaching tolerance through everyday kindness.

Conclusion

The Sikh community in Japan may be small, but its stories are immense — stories of music, science, service, and survival. From Puran Singh’s laboratory to Sarabjit Chadha’s stage and Gursewak Singh’s courage, the legacy of Sikhs in Japan shows how the flame of Gurmat glows even in the farthest corners of the world.

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