Why Islam arrived late to Japan?
Muslims in Japan, Reality and Ambition
Najim A. Albazi•
Published at Hajj and Umrra Magazine
Saudi Arabia September 2007
Many people inquiry about the reason of late arrival of religion of Islam to Japan, after the light of Islam flash on several countries in the region. Whoever the fact, which a lot of people don’t know that Islam arrived late compare with other countries such as Indonesia an Malaysia, which is most of population of these countries are Muslims. Dr. Salih Samarrai – chairman of Islamic Center Japan – see that Islam did not arrive to Japan early because of many reasons, first that Japan is island and it was difficult for others to reach it in the past centuries, and second that Spanish when the occupied Philippine the didn’t let Muslims go to Japan and other countries and because of that Islam came late to Japan. Historical view The first contacts between Muslims and Japan began at the end of nineteen century. The both Japanese and Ottomans Empires had desired to have stable and friendly relations between them to face the dangerous of west countries. Since that time Japanese started known by Japanese specially with increase of visiting of Muslims to Japan and establish the Muslim community and organization in Japan. The migrant of Tatar Muslims to Japan in the beginning of Twenty century lead to increase of Muslims in Japan specially after establishing of Tokyo Mosque. hover many Japanese converted to Islam after several visits of Muslims to Japan since fifties of last century. The Muslim organization which established that time participated into introduce Islam to Japanese people , and among these organization was Japan Muslim association and some other Islamic cultural organization . The Muslim Students in Japan played good role to increase the presence of Islam in Japan since the beginning of sixties of the last century. The students established the Muslim Students Association of Japan (MSAJ) and then they established the Islamic Center Japan. This center become very known in Japan and by its guidance my Japanese converted to Islam. Professor Katakura the expert in Muslims-Japanese relations see that its wrong to think that the Japanese and Muslims meet directly and seriously before the Petroleum Shake in 1973. When the years passed and improve of political and economical relations between Japan and Muslim countries and the role of Muslims in Japan the Islamic presence in Japan become clear in all over Japan from far island in the north to the last point in the south.. The Nature of Islamic presence in Japan. Some people may enquiry that if Muslims in Japan are Japanese or foreigners? The writer think that the most Muslims in Japan are foreigners coming from many countries especially Pakistan, India Bangladesh and Indonesia and from other Muslim countries. I found very good phenomenon these days that many Muslims get Japanese Nationality without getting married with Japanese women. Another thing I have to mention that the children of Muslims when married with Japanese, they are Japanese and now they grow up and they can spread Islam in Japan. And with increase of Muslim Students in all over Japan and establishing many organizations and mosques in the cities where they study. The vice chairman of MSAJ told me that their association decided to build two mosques in Japan every year with cooperate with other organizations and businessmen in Japan. and now they working on building two mosques one in Ibaraki prefecture and other in Sendai city and MSAJ translated many book about Islam to Japanese language. Its clear now in Japan that the Mosques and prayer places are everywhere in Japan and for example you can find the Friday prayer in most important area in Tokyo. In spite of the huge expensive life in Japan and specially lands we thanks ALLAH that Muslims started buying lands and build Mosques and I mention here altawheed Mosque in Hachioji city which donated to built by generous people of Saudi Arabia and Yokohama Mosque which build by donation of Muslims business men in Japan. Future of Muslims presence in Japan 1- the spread of Mosques and prayer places (Mussalah) all over Japan. 2- The efforts of Muslim associations and Muslim people to give good image about Islam through lectures and publishing books in Japanese language. 3- The role of Muslim Students in many Japanese universities through their efforts to spread Islam between Japanese Students. 4- The role of Muslims businessmen to establish many mosques in many Japanese cities. 5- The separation of Muslim immigrant and their role to explain Islam to Japanese. 6- The role of new Muslim generation who one of their parents is Japanese. Establish the first Islamic School in Japan With increasing of numbers of Muslims in Japan – Japanese and foreigners – and the spread of Mosques in everywhere in Japan the appear of needy of Islamic School for new generation is very important in this time. Until this moment, Muslims could not establish Islamic school in this country. There were many reasons for that, such as the expensive of lands and building costs in Japan. Muslim tried many times to do this project and last one was by Islamic Center Japan when they bought land behind Tokyo Mosque in aim to build new school on it. After buying the land in 2000, the center’s people tried to collect donations to build this school from Japan and outside Japan and they do their best to serve Islamic community in Japan and secure Islamic education to their children. With all efforts of Center they could not collect the enough money to build this school and until now and still the land as it waiting build school on it. From here I rise my calls to donate to this project to give Muslim’s children Islamic education . Suggestions to increase Islamic presence in Japan In spite of the wide spreading of Islam in Japan but that still under the ambition. I believe that Japanese is most close people to Islam from their habits and imitation and I am sure that the very needy to Islam to full the sprightly spaces in their lives and if Muslims could tell Japanese the right picture of Islam then we can say that a lot of Japanese will accept Islam. There are some suggestions I mention here after four years of living in Japan and in touch with Muslims in this country. 1- necessity of Muslims governments to support Muslims in Japan through the financial supports to organizations and Mosques and sending some scholars from Muslim countries and pay their expenses under the supervision of Islamic Center Japan. 2- Choose some Muslims who graduate from Islamic schools in Muslim countries and give these students scholarships to study Japanese language in their country and send them later to Japan to learn Japanese in Japan and then employ them in Mosques and organizations. 3- The necessity of good scholar in Islamic law to answer the question of Muslims in Japan. 4- Increase the translations of Islamic books to Japanese language and make sure that the books is suitable for Japanese mind. 5- Trying to use the economic and cultural cooperation between Japan and Muslim countries through increase the exchange of visitors and students between two sides. 6- Use the media to spread Islam throw present some good programs about Islam in Japanese TV and Radio. 7- Establish Islamic School in Japan to give good Islamic educations to Muslims children. 8- Holding symposiums and camps inside Japan to increase the cooperation between Muslims community in Japan. Then… there are good opportunities for Islam in Japan if Muslims try to use this opportunities to tell Japanese good things about Islam. We have many signs which make us pessimistic that Japanese people will accept Islam if they receive it in good way
