With Syrians. For Humanity.

About Us

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Our Story

From Silence to Action

Stand with Syria Japan (SSJ) was founded in 2017, when Japanese activists and Syrian survivors came together to confront the atrocities committed by the now-defunct Assad regime. At a time when much of Japan’s public discourse remained silent, we chose to speak out — standing with Syrians demanding freedom, dignity, and justice.

What began as a grassroots initiative has since grown into a recognised non-profit organisation working on the ground in Idlib, Aleppo, and Damascus. Today, SSJ is formally registered as a local NGO with Syria’s transitional government.

Side by Side with Syrian Survivors and Families

From its modest beginnings, SSJ has evolved into a transnational organisation rooted in a survivor-centred and justice-driven approach. We integrate advocacy, humanitarian action, education, and social support to assist Syrians affected by state-sponsored violence — particularly those impacted by enforced disappearance and detention. SSJ started small, but with a clear purpose: to stand alongside Syrian survivors and their families in their fight for justice.

Justice is the Foundation of the Future

SSJ believes that justice is not revenge. It is the only path to reconciliation and lasting peace. The former Assad regime carried out mass detention, torture, and chemical attacks, forcing millions to flee and leaving countless families searching for their loved ones. These crimes cannot be ignored or forgiven without accountability. That is why SSJ works closely with survivors, families, and international legal experts to preserve evidence, amplify testimonies, and pursue justice in both Syrian and international courts. We know that the voices of survivors must shape Syria’s 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 upon the principles of dignity, truth, and justice, a Syria where people can live safely, free from oppression.

We believe that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without fully including the voices and experiences of those who were silenced or disappeared under the former regime.

Through its current and future projects, SSJ aims to elevate the reintegration of survivors and families of the disappeared from an ad hoc humanitarian concern to a national policy priority — catalysing scalable, rights-based models of reintegration that contribute to a more inclusive and accountable Syria.

We Focus On

ーSurvivors of detention, who face psychological trauma, health challenges, legal invisibility, and social stigmatisation.

ーFamilies of the disappeared, who endure uncertainty, grief, and both legal and economic insecurity, often leading to social marginalisation.

ーInternally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities, who face significant challenges due to damaged infrastructure, limited access to essential services, and the need for sustainable recovery and social cohesion.

We listen.
We act.
We resist.

Our Team

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 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 in 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 as well as in numerous Syrian media outlets. Through research, advocacy, and action, he continues to fight for justice, dignity, and freedom alongside Syrians.

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 calm leadership, practical problem-solving, and a deep belief in standing alongside survivors and communities affected by injustice. He plays a key role in shaping SSJ’s vision, strengthening its internal systems, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the organisation.

Yayoi Yamazaki has spent more than two decades working in Syria, where she contributed to major archaeological missions, 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 advanced museum education in Jordan.

Yayoi is the founder of Ibra wa Khayt (“Needle and Thread”), a livelihood initiative that empowers women displaced by the Syrian crisis. The organisation now partners with Stand with Syria Japan (SSJ), strengthening local resilience and supporting Syrian-led recovery through dignity-based economic opportunities.

Drawing on her combined expertise in cultural preservation, community empowerment, and human rights, Yayoi works to promote resilience, justice, and dignity across Syrian communities.

Mohamad Sraaj serves as SSJ’s Country Manager, leading all operations across Syria. He graduated from the University of Aleppo, where he studied Japanese language and culture, before redirecting his career towards education and humanitarian service in response to the Assad regime’s violent repression of civilians. Over the years, he has worked with a range of local and international organisations, supporting oppressed and marginalised Syrians through aid, protection, and resilience-focused programmes.

Since joining SSJ, Sraaj has overseen education projects, humanitarian assistance, and livelihood initiatives, and now manages both the Damascus and Aleppo hubs. With profound local insight and a steadfast commitment to justice, he ensures that SSJ’s activities remain grounded in the needs, dignity, and aspirations of Syrians on the ground.

Marisa Saito specialises in international public policy and climate change. She holds an MSc in Climate Change, Development and Policy from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Sussex. Driven by a deep commitment to supporting communities facing the dual challenges of protracted crisis and climate vulnerability, she joined Stand with Syria Japan (SSJ) to contribute to meaningful, community-centred recovery. At SSJ, Marisa coordinates multiple projects and oversees local teams to ensure the effective and timely implementation of activities across Syria. She plays an instrumental role in both strategic planning and day-to-day operational management, strengthening the organisation’s capacity to deliver dignified and sustainable support on the ground.

Prior to joining SSJ, she worked with Kyodo News NNA, first at its Tokyo headquarters and later as a correspondent based in Vietnam. During her academic studies, she also engaged in research and volunteer initiatives in several countries across the Global North. Marisa remains dedicated to promoting sustainable development, climate-responsive action, and humanitarian resilience in Syria.

Marwan Alhaffar serves as Deputy Director of SSJ’s Justice Unit, where he co-leads the organisation’s work documenting mass atrocities and gathering survivor testimonies from Syria’s notorious detention system. A dedicated advocate for human rights and accountability, Marwan began studying law at Damascus University before the revolution. His and his family’s outspoken opposition to the Assad regime forced him into exile, preventing him from completing his degree.

In displacement, Marwan redirected his life towards frontline humanitarian and justice work. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) from Malmö University and volunteered at a field hospital in Şanlıurfa, Turkey, supporting civilians fleeing conflict. Over the years, he has become a leading voice in survivor-centred documentation and international accountability initiatives.

Marwan brings profound contextual insight, moral conviction, and lived revolutionary experience to SSJ’s justice efforts. His work forms an essential part of SSJ’s mission to pursue truth, preserve evidence, and advance justice for Syrian victims and survivors.

Kodai Onodera specializes in international criminal justice and is currently enrolled in the LL.M. – Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. He brings several years of professional experience in international law, human rights advocacy, and development aid.

He joined SSJ in 2018 and has since been actively engaged in advocacy for justice in Syria, as well as in humanitarian aid projects in northwestern Syria. He previously served as an officer in the Law of the Sea Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and as a project coordinator at the Embassy of Japan in Lebanon.

Khalaf Al-Barghash is a survivor of Saydnaya Prison, notorious as the “human slaughterhouse.” He was detained and severely tortured after refusing to fire on peaceful protesters while serving in the Syrian army. Since joining SSJ, Khalaf has devoted himself to pursuing justice for survivors and honouring the memory of those who did not return — including close friends lost in Saydnaya. His work is guided by a promise he made inside the prison: to stand for truth, dignity, and accountability for all Syrians.

Belal Alsaker supports SSJ’s operations in Damascus, contributing to programme logistics, field coordination, and day-to-day implementation. He holds a degree in Business Administration and Marketing and brings strong organisational skills, reliability, and a commitment to serving communities affected by injustice. His work helps ensure that SSJ’s activities run smoothly and remain closely connected to the needs of people on the ground.

Husein Daabour was born in Aleppo in 1991 and completed his secondary schooling at the outset of the Syrian revolution in 2011. He paused his studies to participate in the revolutionary movement before resuming his education at the Teacher Preparation Institute in Turmanin, northern Idlib, where he graduated in 2020 with excellent marks. While working as a primary school teacher in Deir Hassan, he continued his academic path at the University of Idlib (Dana branch), graduating top of his class with distinction in primary education. Alongside his studies, Husein volunteered with several local organisations, contributing to community support initiatives.

He now serves as a Field Supervisor with Stand with Syria Japan (SSJ) in the Aleppo Branch, where he supports education and field-based programmes across northwest Syria with dedication, professionalism, and deep local insight.

Born in Aleppo in 1992, Mohammad Ibrahim al-Hasan began his studies in biology at the University of Aleppo before being arrested during a peaceful campus demonstration in March 2012. Ongoing security threats from the Assad regime forced him to abandon his studies and live in hiding. Despite these hardships, he later resumed his education and earned a diploma in Business Administration from Free Aleppo University in the liberated areas.

From the early days of the Syrian revolution, Mohammad was active as a media activist, documenting protests and the suffering of civilians under regime bombardment. He went on to work with several organisations in the education and public service sectors. Now serving as a Field Officer with SSJ’s Aleppo Branch, Mohammad brings resilience, commitment, and deep community insight to his work. He remains determined to continue the academic journey that was unjustly taken from him.

Ahmad Tahhan has been part of SSJ since the organisation first began its activities in north-west Syria. He graduated from the Faculty of Teacher Preparation at Free Aleppo University and worked as a primary school teacher. Deeply inspired by the goals of the Syrian revolution, he collaborated with other activists from its earliest days and has remained committed to serving his community ever since.

Originally from Ratyan in northern Aleppo, Ahmad now lives in a displacement camp, where he continues to support vulnerable families as a Field Officer with SSJ’s Aleppo Branch. His long-standing dedication, local knowledge, and community trust make him an essential member of the team.