• Ramen chef Chikahiro Naoya continues with his lone protests outside the Israeli embassy every week in Japan. He has not stopped on his lone mission since February.
• Naoya has received much resistance from authorities. However, this has not deterred him.
You may have seen this story in February 2024. A small but powerful act of protest began in Tokyo. Ramen chef Chikahiro Naoya, known for his culinary expertise, stepped away from his kitchen to stand outside the Israeli Embassy in Japan. Holding signs and shouting “Stop genocide,” Naoya’s message was clear and urgent: he was calling for an end to the ongoing bloodbath in Gaza.
What started as a single act of defiance soon became a weekly ritual for the chef-turned-activist.
Naoya has continued his lone protest until today.
No matter the weather, he would return to the embassy, undeterred by municipal police efforts to quiet him. His demand for the Israeli government to halt the genocide in Gaza gained attention, as he withstood pressures to silence his protests.
Despite the authorities’ attempts to curb his vocal demonstrations, Naoya’s persistence highlights how to pro-Palestine movement has spread far and wide. His protest is a poignant reminder that, even in places far away, people are deeply moved to speak out against the injustices and barbarism perpetrated by the brutal Israeli regime.
Naoya’s commitment speaks to the power of individual activism, as one person’s voice can inspire others and draw attention internationally.
Naoya can be reached on Instagram if you wish to join him in his protest in Japan:
