“Every day is an open door day for the mosque,” says Muhammet Rıfat Çınar, imam of Tokyo Camii.
“We get around three to four-hundred walk-in visitors during the week, and more than a thousand on weekends. At least three out of four visitors are Japanese,” he adds.
Outside, a Japanese convert to Islam recalls his journey so far.
“I’m now practicing reciting the adhan. It’s a big change after one year. Earlier I struggled with things like eating, but now I’ve quit alcohol and cigarettes and I eat halal food,” he says.
Back inside, a Japanese TV crew has arrived to film and learn more.
“I chose this place because I wanted to learn about Islamic culture. I wanted to know more about the teachings of Islam, so I asked the Imam of Tokyo mosque, who has detailed knowledge,” says Hashimoto, a TV presenter.
Today there are more than 110 mosques across Japan compared to just 15 in 1999.
Source: 5pillarsuk.com