AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Japan's religious landscape is undergoing a transformative shift, which is evident by the growing number of mosques that have emerged in the country over the past two decades.
The change can be attributed to a lesser degree to increasing intermarriage between Muslims and Japanese citizens (many Japanese converted to Islam through marriage), but mostly to the rising number of immigrants coming from Islamic states.
The number of Muslims in Japan was estimated to be between 10,000 to 20,000 in the year 2000 while the current estimates are of over 200,000. That is a ten-fold increase in less than one generation.
Also, mosques that used to be uncommon in Japan are no longer rare. As of March 2021, there were 113 mosques in Japan, up from only 15 in 1999.
Islam and Shinto both offer guidance and spiritual meaning to their followers, they differ significantly in their origins and core beliefs. The two religions can coexist quite well because their beliefs and value systems do not contradict each other too much.
Islam originated in the 7th century, it emerged as a monotheistic religion centered on the belief in one God, Allah, and the teachings of the Quran, considered the Holy Book of Islam.
Shinto on the other hand is the indigenous religion of Japan with roots that trace back to ancient times. It developed organically from Japanese folklore and rituals.
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