Fourteen months after Tokyo learned it would be hosting Olympics 2020, Japan’s capital city held its first international halal forum and exhibition in November 2014, which kickstarted other Islamic economy events as the country started focusing on how to serve the expected influx of Muslim athletes, games delegates and visitors.
Last Friday on Nov 23, second city Osaka won its bid to host World Expo 2025 that expects to attract 28 million visitors. Osaka-based Ammar Jebawi, founder of Nishi Nippon Halal Association (NNHA), believes a lot of changes will happen in the city leading up to the expo and the halal sector must keep apace if it wants to properly serve its Muslim guests.
Muslim visitor numbers to Japan as a whole have been steadily rising. The Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) doesn’t reveal visitor statistics by religion but as an indication of travellers from Muslim-majority countries, in 2013, 176,521 travelled from Malaysia and 136,797 from Indonesia. By 2017 these numbers almost tripled to just under 800,000: 439,548 from Malaysia and 352,330 from Indonesia.
Free, in under 30 seconds
Join thousands of professionals reading Salaam Gateway — the Global Islamic Economy Gateway.
Already a member? Sign in
- 5 free articles every month
- Weekly Islamic-economy newsletter
- Save articles to read later
Hannef Esquander and Emmy Abdul Alim