This is true as well for Japan’s small Muslim community. No one knows exactly how many Muslims live in Japan, but most estimates hover around 100,000—about 90% of whom are foreign-born and about 10% native Japanese.
Waseda University in Tokyo has been taking the lead in bringing the leaders of Japan’s Muslim community together, hosting a national gathering of mosque imams and others to discuss their mutual concerns.
Japan has been witnessing a boom in the number of mosques being constructed
On this occasion, they also invited a Korean Muslim leader to discuss the situation in his country. He explained to a fascinated audience that although the size of Korea’s Muslim community is only slightly larger than that of Japan, it is centrally organized through the Korea Muslim Federation.
The Muslims of Japan debated both the plausibility and desirability of establishing a national organization in their country too.
Some leaders even came with proposals.
The debate will continue, but the Muslim leaders of Japan expressed their determination to strengthen their mutual links in the years ahead.
And so the Muslim community of Japan is strengthening its institutions to play a stronger role in Japanese society.
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