Shafaqna English – As of 2020, almost 230,000 people in Japan have embraced Islam, making it one of the countries where the religion is growing rapidly. Of these, approximately 150,000 are Shia Muslims.
According to a survey by Tanada Hirofumi, Professor Emeritus at Waseda University and an expert on Islam in Japan, there were 230,000 Muslims living in Japan in 2020—about one in every 500 people. This number had doubled over the past decade. Among them, around 47,000 had Japanese citizenship. The number of mosques across Japan has also increased significantly, from just 15 in 1999 to 133 by April 2023.
Japan’s Growing Tolerance and Understanding of Islam
Japan has made notable strides in fostering tolerance, acceptance, and understanding of Islam within its society. “We Japanese were previously unfamiliar with Muslims,” said Hirofumi Okai, Associate Professor of Sociology at Kyoto Sangyo University and a scholar of Islamic culture. “Now that they are our neighbors, we need to think about how to live with them in this diversifying society.”
Islamic Foundations in Japan
There are several Islamic foundations in Japan, including the Islamic Center Japan, Japan Muslim Association, Japan Muslim Peace Federation, Japan Islamic Trust, and the Islamic Circle of Japan. Key mosques, such as the Tokyo Mosque, Kobe Muslim Mosque, and Nagoya Mosque, also play an important role in promoting Islamic values. These organizations aim to provide a supportive environment for Muslims in Japan, focusing on education and the promotion of Islamic values in a religiously diverse community.
Shia Muslim Population in Japan
The Shia Muslim population in Japan is currently estimated to be around 150,000. The Shia center in Tokyo, known as the Islamic Council of Japan, also hosts Hussainia Ahlul Bayt (AS), which serves as a cultural and religious hub for the community.
Sheikh Ibrahim Swada, a Japanese cleric who converted to Shia Islam, mentioned that the center offers classes on Islamic laws and Quranic studies. He is also working on translating Quranic verses into Japanese to make Islamic teachings more accessible.
As part of their outreach, the Imam Hussain (AS) Holy Shrine opened the Imam Mahdi (AJ) Centre in Japan, which plays an important role in spreading the teachings of Ahlul Bayt (AS) globally.
Preaching and Education: Shia Islam in Japan
The Ashab Al-Kisaa International Preaching Center, affiliated with the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussain (AS), organizes various religious activities and events in Japan. It has also established a center named after Imam Hussain (AS).
Kazem Abe, who converted to Islam and is part of the Ahlul Bayt (AS) school in Japan, explains the approach known as the “Islam of Mecca.” He highlights that Japanese people are generally unfamiliar with Islam, so the approach emphasizes introducing them to the fundamental principles of Shia Islam—similar to how Islam was first introduced to the people of Mecca.
Mrs. Nonoyama, another convert to Islam and member of the Ahlul Bayt (AS) school, discusses their “Virtues of Our Words” approach. She explains that they translate the hadiths of Imam Ridha (AS) into Japanese and hold group discussions, especially among women, to help foster love for Ahlul Bayt (AS) through shared teachings and values.
The Legacy of Master Savada
The late Master Savada, born in January 1924 in Gifu, Japan, played a significant role in the growth of Islam and the dissemination of Shia Islamic teachings in Japan. After studying Shintoism and its various branches in his youth, he later studied Islamic teachings and converted to Islam at the age of fifty. Seven years later, he chose to follow Shia Islam. Throughout his life, Master Savada worked tirelessly to promote Islam and share the teachings of Shia Islam with others.
Sources: Asahi, Daily Sabah, Nippon, Ahl-ul-bayt, Al-mostabserin, Imam Hussain.org