Muslims in Japan
I will try to describe briefly the situation of Muslims and Islam in the Land of the rising sun according to what I have observed in the last one month.
To start with, there are quite a few Muslims here and by this I mean in and around Tokyo, where I have spent most of my time. Before you get excited let me tell you that almost all of these Muslims are foreigners who come here for studies or work. Indonesians, Pakistanis, Malaysians, Bangladeshis and Chinese make up for the Muslim demography probably in this order. As for Japanese Muslims, I have met only one old gentleman yet. In contrast there is a fairly large number of Japanese Muslim women comprising almost all of those who married immigrant Muslim settled in Japan. I think this article explains the situation better.
Talking about mosques, there are around 100 mosques in all of Japan with more than 10 in Tokyo area. Be warned that mosques here don’t necessarily mean of the size we usually think of, some of these mosques are only good for 50 people! But there are some bigger mosques too and Tokyo Camii is my favorite ‘coz it is the most ‘mosque like’ mosque. Many Muslim students have come up with small places for their daily salah in their Universities or near dormitories, some these places even hold Jumuah prayers. What I believe that its not impossible to find a mosque in the area around you if you are in Tokyo, the problem, though, is of graveyards. Japanese people respect Muslim values and don’t stereotype Islam like the west and hence it doesn’t matter to anyone if you pray salah in jam’at at public places but since the land is costly in Japan and the Japanese generally burn their dead bodies it become difficult to find place of burial for deceased Muslims. With an increasing Muslim population the need for graveyards is getting imminent. We have some graveyards and, Alhamdulillah, work has started on a new one.
Problem for halal food still exists with a complete lack of Muslim butcheries. Eating out in a Japanese restaurant is a strict no no as they tend to put meat and/or alcohol is almost everything. All the halal food is imported, mostly from the Indian subcontinent.
To sum up, it is not very difficult here to be a Muslim and you quickly learn how to survive if you find some Muslim friends. Another thing you need to take care of are your eyes, Japanese girls seem to hate jeans and love mini skirts and so when using the subway you either have to look at your feet or read the advertisements high on the walls!! Anyways, please pray Allah(swt) to make more Japanese turn to Islam through understanding and not just marriage and to give strength to Muslims in calling their Japanese brethren towards the truth.
Jazak Allahu Khair
