With Syrians. For Humanity.

About Us

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Our Story

From silent outrage to collective action.

Stand with Syria Japan (SSJ) was born in 2017, when a group of Japanese activists and Syrian survivors decided to take a stand against the atrocities committed by the Assad regime. While much of Japan’s public discourse remained silent, SSJ broke the silence and TOOK ACTION —standing publicly with the Syrian revolution and confronting one of the greatest injustices of our time: the systematic disappearance, torture, and silencing of tens of thousands of Syrians.

Side by side with survivors and families

What began as a grassroots initiative has grown into a transnational organization grounded in a survivor-centered, justice-driven approach. SSJ combines advocacy, education, and humanitarian action to support Syrians affected by state-sponsored violence, particularly those impacted by enforced disappearance and detention.

SSJ started small, but with a clear purpose—to fight side by side with survivors and families for freedom, justice, and dignity.

confronting

Over the years, SSJ has stood by the Syrian people by confronting regime propaganda, exposing war crimes , and building international solidarity. We lead public campaigns in Japan and abroad to challenge dominant narratives, we have organized over 100 public events and have been featured in both Japanese and Syrian media, as well as international civil society forums.

This work has come with real consequences. SSJ has been blacklisted by the Assad regime, Russia, and Iran, and has been the target of threats and smear campaigns. But we have never stepped back because telling the truth and standing for justice are not optional. We believe that survivor voices must shape Syria’s future, and that confronting past atrocities is essential to building a just and inclusive tomorrow.

Our story is one of resilience, activism, and unwavering belief in a free Syria.

Our Mission

Our mission is to support Syrians in rebuilding their homeland based on dignity, truth, and justice, where people can live safely, free from oppression. We focus on those most deeply affected by the war: survivors of detention, families of the disappeared, displaced individuals, and communities left behind. Through our work, we aim to restore agency and dignity to those who have been silenced, harmed, or excluded.

A turning point in History. On December 8, 2024, Syria was finally freed from the Assad dictatorship, marking a historic moment for the Syrian people. For the first time in over half a century, Syrians have a real chance to build a country based on freedom, dignity, and justice

SSJ now enters a new chapter: working with communities across Syria to rebuild homes. As survivors begin returning to their communities and reclaiming their voices, we stand beside them—working across Syria to rebuild homes, restore legal identities, and pursue full justice for the crimes committed.

We envision a future Syria where survivors of detention and war crimes are not only protected but empowered to lead the country’s reconstruction. We believe they must be at the center of this process as agents of change.

SSJ is survivor-centered, justice-driven, and politically clear. We don’t speak about Syrians. We speak with them.

We listen.
We act.
We resist.

We work hand in hand with Syrians, guided by a survivor-led and justice-centered approach. Our efforts focus on transitional justice, documentation, advocacy, education, and economic empowerment—tools that help rebuild lives with dignity and autonomy.

Our work is rooted in the belief that sustainable peace in Syria is impossible without confronting the past and without elevating the voices of those who were silenced.

Our Team

Icchiku Yamada

Founder and CEO, Stand with Syria Japan (SSJ)
Director of the Justice Unit (Berlin/Syria)

Icchiku Yamada is the Founder and CEO of Stand with Syria Japan (SSJ), the first and only Japanese NGO dedicated to supporting Syrian victims and survivors of human rights violations. Since founding SSJ in 2017, he has led emergency relief, education, and livelihood programmes directly inside Syria, while building Japan’s only on-the-ground humanitarian and justice-focused presence in the country. As an academic and investigator, Icchiku specialises in torture mechanisms, enforced disappearances, and international justice for crimes against humanity. He holds a Master’s degree in Human Security from the University of Tokyo, with academic specialisation in genocide studies and international criminal law. Working between Berlin and Syria, Icchiku leads SSJ’s Justice Unit, conducting in-depth investigations into secret detention sites, collecting survivor testimonies, and advocating for accountability on global platforms—including the European Parliament and the United Nations. He has appeared on major Japanese television networks and in numerous Syrian media outlets. Through research, advocacy, and action, he continues to fight for justice, dignity, and freedom alongside Syrians.

Ryoh Sugitani

Vice President (Tokyo)

Ryoh Sugitani holds a Master’s degree in International Cooperation from the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Frontier Sciences. He began his career with the social enterprise Motherhouse, where he was based in India and worked in product development. Since 2019, he has served as General Manager at the certified non-profit organisation very50, supporting youth empowerment and social entrepreneurship. At SSJ, Ryoh contributes to strategic planning and organisational management, supporting the mission from the Tokyo office. His approach is grounded in quiet leadership, practical support, and a deep belief in the importance of standing with survivors and communities affected by injustice. He plays a vital role in shaping SSJ’s vision, systems, and long-term sustainability.

Yayoi Yamazaki

Auditor (Tokyo)

Yayoi Yamazaki has over two decades of experience in Syria, where she contributed to major archaeological projects, including excavations at Tell Abal, Tell Khomrok, Tell Hadya, and Tell Beydar, as well as the restoration of the Ain Dara Temple. She completed doctoral coursework in archaeology and served as a lecturer at Aleppo University. As a JICA expert, she also promoted museum education in Jordan. Yayoi is the founder of Ibra wa Khayt (“Needle and Thread”), a livelihood initiative empowering women displaced by the Syrian crisis. The organisation now partners with Stand with Syria Japan (SSJ) to strengthen local resilience and support Syrian-led recovery through dignity-based livelihoods. Combining her expertise in cultural preservation with a steadfast commitment to justice and freedom, she works to advance resilience, human rights, and dignity within Syrian communities.

Mohamad Sraaj

Country Manager (Syria)

Mohamad Sraaj is SSJ’s Country Manager, overseeing all operations inside Syria. A graduate of the University of Aleppo, where he studied Japanese language and culture, Sraaj redirected his path toward education and humanitarian service in response to the Assad regime’s brutal crackdown on the Syrian people. He has worked with numerous local and international organisations to support oppressed and marginalised Syrians through aid, protection, and resilience-based programmes. Since joining SSJ, he has led education, humanitarian assistance, and self-reliance initiatives, and now manages both the Damascus and Aleppo hubs. With deep local knowledge and an unwavering commitment to justice, Sraaj ensures that SSJ’s work remains rooted in the needs and dignity of Syrians on the ground.

Marisa Saito

Project Coordinator (Tokyo)

Marisa Saito is the driving force behind SSJ’s programme coordination in Tokyo, ensuring the organisation’s projects inside Syria are implemented smoothly and effectively. With a background in development, international public policy, and climate justice, she brings both strategic and operational expertise to SSJ’s mission. She holds an MSc in Climate Change, Development and Policy from the University of Sussex. Before joining SSJ, she worked with Kyodo News NNA in Vietnam, gaining experience in international journalism and regional affairs. At SSJ, Marisa works to ensure that all efforts truly serve Syrians — grounded in their voices, responsive to their needs, and impactful in their lives.

Marwan Alhaffar

Deputy Director of the Justice Unit (Hybrid)

Marwan Alhaffar is Deputy Director of SSJ’s Justice Unit, where he co-leads the organisation’s work documenting mass atrocities and collecting survivor testimonies related to Syria’s detention system. A committed legal and human rights advocate, Marwan began studying law at Damascus University before the revolution. Due to his and his family’s outspoken opposition to the Assad regime, he was forced to flee Syria and was unable to complete his degree. In exile, he redirected his life toward frontline care and justice, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) from Malmö University and volunteering in a field hospital in Şanlıurfa, Turkey. He has since become a powerful voice in survivor-centred documentation and accountability efforts. Marwan brings deep knowledge of the Syrian context, unwavering moral clarity, and lived revolutionary experience to SSJ’s justice work—making him a vital force in the pursuit of truth and accountability.

Khalaf Al-Barghash

Project Coordinator (Damascus Branch)

Khalaf Al-Barghash is a survivor of Saydnaya Prison, known as the “human slaughterhouse.” He was detained and brutally tortured after refusing to shoot protesters while serving in the Syrian army. Since joining SSJ, Khalaf has dedicated himself to achieving justice for survivors and honouring the memory of those who perished — including close friends he lost in Saydnaya. His work is driven by a promise he made behind prison walls: to never stop fighting for truth, dignity, and accountability.

Husein Daabour

Field Supervisor (Aleppo Branch)

Born in Aleppo in 1991, Hussein Dabboul began his education there and completed secondary school at the onset of the Syrian revolution in 2011. He temporarily left his studies to join the revolutionary movement, and later resumed his education by enrolling in the Teacher Preparation Institute in Turmanin, northern Idlib, graduating in 2020 with excellent marks. While working as a classroom teacher in Deir Hassan, he pursued further studies at the University of Idlib (Dana branch), where he graduated top of his class with distinction in primary education. Throughout his academic journey, Hussein was active in several organisations through volunteer initiatives. He currently works with Stand with Syria Japan (SSJ) as a Field Supervisor in the Aleppo Branch, contributing to the organisation’s education and field-based programmes in northwest Syria.

Mohammad al-Hasan

Field Officer (Aleppo Branch)

Born in Aleppo in 1992, Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Hassan began his university studies in biology at the University of Aleppo but was arrested during a peaceful demonstration on campus in March 2012. Due to repeated security threats from the Assad regime, he was forced to abandon his studies and go into hiding. Despite these challenges, Mohammad later resumed his education and earned a diploma in Business Administration from Free Aleppo University in the liberated areas. From the beginning of the Syrian revolution, he played an active role as a media activist, documenting protests and the suffering of civilians under regime bombardment. He later worked with various organisations in the education and public service sectors. Now part of SSJ’s Aleppo team, Mohammad continues to serve his community and remains determined to complete the academic path that was taken from him by force.