Islam in Japan

 

Foreign Muslims began arriving in modern Japan almost from the beginning of the “opening” of the country. Most of these first Muslims were Malay sailors serving aboard British or Dutch ships. Ever since that time, Islam has existed in Japan. By the early 20th century a handful of ethnic Japanese also began to convert to Islam.

Photo: Kotaro “Omar” Yamaoka, the first Japanese Muslim to make the Hajj

By 2005, there were about 60,000 to 70,000 Muslims in Japan, with about 10% of those being ethnic Japanese. The largest single community of foreign Muslims was the Indonesian, who made up more than a third of the total foreign Muslim population.

MOSQUES IN JAPAN

There are a couple of dozen mosques in Japan, most of them located in the Kanto region (the area near Tokyo).

Photo: Tokyo Mosque
Source: Tokyo Mosque homepage

In addition to mosques, there are also a couple of hundred more small prayer rooms that have been established by local Muslim communities. The principal mosques in Japan are listed below, but this is not a comprehensive list.

Annur Mosque in Niigata

This mosque developed out of the community of Muslim students at Niigata University. It serves a multinational group of Muslims and became fully operational in early 2009.

Address: 6776-43 Ikarashi 1 Nocho, Nishi-ku, Niigata-shi
Telephone: 080-3198-9938

Asakusa Mosque

This mosque was established by a group calling itself the Islamic Circle of Japan in the year 2000. Most of its members are from South and Southeast Asia.

Address: 1-9-12 Higashi-Asakusa, Daito-ku, Tokyo
Telephone: 03-3871-6061

Ashikaga Mosque

Also known as the Masjid Nur, this mosque was established in 2000 and the majority of its members are Sri Lankan Muslims. It is located in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture.

Address: Yamashita-cho, Ashikaga-shi, Tochigi-ken
Telephone: Unlisted

Bab ul-Islam Mosque

This mosque was established by the Islamic Circle of Japan in 2005. It is located in Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture, and serves a mainly South Asian community of Muslims.

Address: Oyama-shi, Tochigi-ken
Telephone: Unlisted

Balai Indonesia

As the name suggests, this is a mosque and school established by and for Indonesian Muslims in Japan. In fact, it is closely related to the Indonesian embassy. The original facilities were opened in 1962, but the current building dates from 1975.

Address: 4-6-6 Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Telephone: 03-3711-8842

Fukuoka Masjid

The only major mosque on the island of Kyushu opened its doors in March 2009. The community it serves is relatively in terms of nationality.

Address: 3-2-18 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka-shi
Telephone: 092-641-7022

Gifu Fatih Mosque

This mosque in Kagamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture, serves a community that is primarily Turkish and Pakistani. It was established in 2002.

Address: Mitsui-cho, Kagamigahara-shi, Gifu-ken
Telephone: Unlisted

Hiroo Mosque

This mosque, part of the Arabic-Islamic Institute, is basically a Saudi Arabian institution. Its history can be traced back to about 1982, but it has been in its current location since 1999.

Address: 3-4-18 Motoazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Telephone: 03-3404-6622

Ichinowari Mosque

This mosque in Saitama Prefecture is also associated with the Tablighi Jamaat.

Address: 1-1-6 Bingonishi, Kasukabe-shi, Saitama-ken
Telephone: 048-736-2767

Isezaki Mosque

Also known as the Jamia Mosque Mohammadia, this facility serves Muslims in Isezaki City, Gunma Prefecture. The original building opened in 1995, but was later reconstructed in 2005. Most of its members are South Asian.

Address: Kita-cho, Isezaki-shi, Gunma-ken
Telephone: 0270-24-4260

Islamic Center Japan

This cultural and religious center traces its history back to 1966, but really began its main operations after 1975. It is closely connected to Saudi Arabia and is one of the more prominent Muslim organizations in Japan.

Address: 1-16-11 Ohara, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Telephone: 03-3460-6169

Jame Masjid Yokohama

This mosque opened in December 2006 and has a management committee which is predominantly Pakistani. It makes stronger than average efforts to reach out to the surrounding Japanese community.

Address: 1-31-13 Hayabuchi, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama-shi
Telephone: Unlisted

Kobe Mosque

Kobe Mosque was the very first permanent mosque in Japan, having opened in 1935. It was originally established by Indian Muslim traders resident in the city.

Address: 2-25-14 Nakayamadori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo-ken
Telephone: 078-231-6060

Makki Masjid Tokyo

This mosque, also known as the Ohanajaya Mosque, is affiliated with the Tablighi Jamaat sect, which is comparatively active in Japan. This mosque opened its doors in 2001 and its membership is predominantly South Asian.

Address: 5-22-14 Yotsugi, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo
Telephone: 090-9235-6411

Matsuyama Islamic Cultural Center

This facility in Dogoimaichi City on the island of Shikoku serves Malaysian students and other local Muslims. It was established in 1994 for students of Ehime University.

Address: Dogoimaichi, Ehime-ken
Telephone: Unlisted

Nagoya Mosque

One of the three prewar mosques was located in Nagoya, but it was completely destroyed by American bombing in May 1945. The current Nagoya Mosque was established in 1998 and serves a diverse community of Muslims.

Address: 2-26-7 Honjindori, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken
Telephone: 052-486-2380

Niigata Mosque

Also known as the Madani Mosque Niigata, this facility was opened in 2002 to serve a largely Pakistani community of Muslims.

Address: 2557-1 Tarodai, Niigata-shi
Telephone: 090-3416-3063

Niihama Masjid

This mosque was established in 2003 on the island of Shikoku. Most of its members are Muslims staying in Japan short-term as students or trainees.

Address: Ichimomiya-cho, Niihama-shi, Ehime-ken
Telephone: 0897-34-9191

Otsuka Mosque

This mosque was opened in 1999 by a group calling itself the Japan Islamic Trust.

Address: 3-24-7 Minami-Otsuka, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Telephone: 03-3971-5631

Quba Mosque

This mosque in Tatebayashi City, Gunma Prefecture, was also established by the Islamic Circle of Japan. It opened in 2003 and is predominantly Pakistani.

Address: Tatebayashi-shi, Gunma-ken
Telephone: Unlisted

Shin-Okubo Mosque

The point of particular interest about this mosque is that it was established and is run by Myanmarese Muslims. Women are not allowed at this mosque.

Address: 2-10 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Telephone: Unlisted

Toda Mosque

This mosque is located in Toda City, Saitama Prefecture.

Address: 4-5-1 Shinsominami, Toda-shi, Saitama-ken
Telephone: 048-434-8351

Tokyo Camii

Established in 1938, this was the first permanent mosque in Tokyo, and the second in Japan as a whole. The original structure was demolished in 1986, but the mosque reopened in 2000 with Turkish government support. It serves a diverse community of worshippers.

Address: 1-16 Oyamamachi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Telephone: 03-5790-0760

Toyama Mosque

This mosque is located in Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture. It was established in 1999 and serves a community which is diverse in nationality, but with Pakistanis comprising the largest single national group.

Address: Imizu-shi, Toyama-ken
Telephone: Unlisted

Tsukuba Mosque

This mosque was established in 2001 by Indonesian students of Tsukuba University through an organization called the Tsukuba Islamic Association.

Address: 315-10 Kaname, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken
Telephone: 029-864-3235

Yashio Mosque

This mosque is located in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture

Address: 649 Ukizuka, Yashio-shi, Saitama-ken
Telephone: 090-4920-6502

OUTSIDE LINKS

The following website endeavors to maintain the most complete and up-to-date listing of mosques and musallas (temporary prayer rooms) in Japan:

Masjids in Japan

SEJJIR ARTICLES

Diversity as Advantage: The Educational Environment for Muslims in Japan
Malay Muslims in Early Meiji Yokohama

SHINGETSU NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

2005 Newsletters

22 -- An American Muslim in Japan: Asma Gull Hasan
93 -- Review of Anis on the Muslim Minority in Japan
96 -- Koizumi to Host Iftar for Muslim Ambassadors
105 -- An Islamic School in Japan

2006 Newsletters

155 -- Terror: What Japan Has to Fear
166 -- The Light and Shadow of Japan-Turkey Friendship
180 -- Rapid-Deportment Policy Draws Flak
261 -- The Perception of Islam in Japanese Schools
296 -- Islam in Japan: Adversity and Diversity
325 -- Statute of Limitations Expires on Hiroshi Igarashi Murder
331 -- Foreign Muslim Population in Japan / First Mosque in Kyushu
414 -- Prime Minister Abe Hosts an Iftar Dinner
458 -- Factory Denies Muslim Basic Human Rights

2007 Newsletters

523 -- The Myth of “Al-Qaida in Japan” Gets Busted
536 -- Pakistani Ambassador in Tokyo Urges Nationals to be on Good Behavior
565 -- Japan Strengthens Anti-Terrorism Measures
584 -- “Little Pakistan” on the Sea of Japan
603 -- Local Mosques are Central to Lives of Muslims in Japan / Japanese Muslim
621 -- Iranian Embassy Hosts Discussion on Japanese Relations with Islamic World
629 -- Pakistan Offers Trained Labor Force to Japan
631 -- An Indian Reflection on Urdu Studies in Japan
647 -- Pakistani Sailors Disappear into the Streets of Tokyo
657 -- The Forthcoming Japan-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement
658 -- Conference on the Rohingya People to be Held in Gunma Prefecture
681 -- Japanese Muslims in Summer Camp / Interest in Arabic / Calligraphy
764 -- Dogan Family Tells their Story to the Canadian Press
769 -- Prime Minister Fukuda Presides over an Iftar
772 -- Films from the Islamic World Garnering Attention in Tokyo
788 -- Kunio Hatoyama’s War on Terrorism
791 -- Latest “Antiterrorism” Measures Under Fire
851 -- Fukuda Stumbles on the War on Terrorism / Homeland Security

2008 Newsletters

866 -- Photo of Pan-Islam in Tokyo
889 -- Barakatullah’s Mission in Japan (1912)
904 -- The Dark Shadow of White Al-Qaida
906 -- Islam in Japan: A Cause for Concern?
911 -- Collateral Damage from Japan’s Discriminatory “Anti-Terrorism” Policies
919 -- The Yomiuri Profiles the Rohingya Community of Japan
937 -- Fingerprinting as an International Trend
971 -- The Absence of Cemetaries is a Serious Problem for Muslims in Japan
1132 -- A Report on the Muslim Students’ Association of Japan
1163 -- The Nikkei Estimates the Number of Mosques in Japan Over Fifty
1190 -- Police Bust Iranian Drug Ring in Upscale Tokyo

The Islam in Japan page was compiled by Michael Penn and Mohammad Anwer Memon.