The number of foreign visitors to Japan in 2015 amounted to 20 million and not a single day passes without hearing about inbound tourism. Where binge shopping, private lodging and regional revitalisation flutter about, one subject coming into the spotlight in Japanese society nowadays is the term, ‘Halal’. In accordance to the rapid growth of Muslim visitors to Japan from ASEAN countries (following the increase of tourists from East Asia), Japan is centering its focus on Halal.

Halal is an Arabic word that literally means “permissible”, as defined in the Islamic laws and is better known to the public as a term that notifies Muslims of food that are lawful for their consumption. Though limitations posed by Halal, expand far beyond food and affect numerous aspects of a Muslim’s life, with the increase in population and income, the Halal industry now comprises of food, daily necessities, cosmetics, medicine, fashion, tourism, financing, and more.

I founded Halal Media Japan three years ago and decided to embark on a journey when my Muslim friend in Singapore informed me that it may be difficult for him to visit Japan because of the lack of Halal food. The fact that I could not invite my friend over to Japan, a country famous for its gourmet cuisine and incredible food came to me as a big shock and frustrated me the most. I felt it was unfair for many Southeast Asians of the Islamic faith who were in the same predicament.

In order to provide Muslims visiting and residing in Japan with basic information on Halal food and products, I decided to open an easily accessible portal site. At the time when Japan was starting to familiarize itself with the term Halal by informing industries of the dietary restrictions of Muslims, most of the available articles online were in Japanese. Since there were almost no direct methods of disseminating such information to Muslims in Japan and overseas, I wanted to create my own media platform. After five months of preparation with two other co-founders, we managed to launch Halal Media Japan on New Year’s Day, in the year 2014. We had birthed a rather unique form of media that handles information on Halal food and products only within Japan.

Since setting up the website, on a daily basis we are receiving emails from all around the world. The comments range from:
“I want to go to Japan.”
“I want to try ramen in Japan.”
“I am very fond of Japanese culture.”
“Are there Halal foods in Japan?”
“Where are the masjids?”
“Are you Muslim yourself?”

I believe the website had the biggest benefit on Muslim exchange students who were in Japan as a considerable number of their emails sounded desperate:
“I am having a hard time because my school doesn’t cook Halal food.” “Since I cannot read Japanese, I can’t tell if something is Halal or not.”
“I can’t work part-time in my hijab.”

These inquiries inspired the website to inform the Japanese population of what ‘Halal’ is, how much ‘Halal’ matters to Muslims, and consequently how it relates to Japan’s future, during the time when Tokyo was just selected as the venue for the 2020 Olympics.

From the support and feedback we increasingly receive, Halal Media Japan is continuously conducting various non-profit activities for Muslims. From hosting gatherings for Muslim exchange students, seminars, consultations, test marketing, employment counseling, creating tourist maps to holding international Halal trade shows, we are eager to do so much more.

We have even contacted shop owners in Asakusa, one of the most popular tourist spots in Japan among Muslims, to permit the practice of their prayers at their space. Though none agreed our request initially, due to the prejudice Islam was attaining, we never gave up. Using our own funds to print versions of Asakusa’s tourist map for Muslims, we went to various shops educating and suggesting new menus and items for Muslims and seek their support to stock local Halal merchandise. While doing so, the people in Taito-ku became accepting to Muslims and with assistance from the local mosque, we observed an increasing number of shops carrying Muslim merchandise.

‘JAPAN HALAL EXPO 2014’ held at Makuhari Messe in November 2014, signified Japan’s dedication of integrating Halal into its society both nationally and globally, purporting itself as a massive turning point for the Halal industry in Japan. In 2016, Asakusa has been chosen for the venue of the new ‘Halal Expo Japan’ and I am extremely delighted by the progress we are steadily achieving.

With Halal Expo Japan 2016, I would like to send a message to the world about Japan’s non-discriminatory attitude towards different religions. Despite being largely ignorant of Halal food until just several years ago, the country is now resuming the attitude of meeting Islam face to face. I wish more Muslims would visit and grow fonder of Japan. Our nation is working very hard to fully open borders for everyone to enjoy all that it has to offer, especially towards Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

I believe our mission is to continue disseminating information to both Japanese and Muslims all over the world.

Mr Shinya Yokoyama

Shinya Yokoyama is a Co-Founder of Halal Media Japan Co Ltd which is Japan’s Halal leading portal site. He has been working to help Japan and Asian SMEs to develop their potential since he started his career in 1992. He holds a MBA degree from Kenichi Ohmae Graduate School of Business and was awarded an encouragement award for his work titled, “Management Strategy for Japanese SMEs in Halal Industry”.

Halal Media Japan