How is Ramadhan in Japan?
Written by Reni Rahmawati
As a Muslim, Ramadhan fasting is obligatory. Do fasting in majority Muslims countries may be common.
But, perform fasting in a non-Muslim majority country like Japan would be interesting.
How about Ramadhan in Japan? And what is the difference with other countries?
Activities run normally
In Japan, social activities such as shop, restaurant, bar etc are stay running as usual.
We also can find many people eating and drinking in public.
Japanese people know fasting with the name danjiki, that’s refer to a Japanese Buddhism training done by monks by keep away from eating and drinking.
Knowing that Muslims do fast, some Japanese friends curious, is it good to work during fasting or is it okay if they eat and drink beside fasting Muslims. Of course, give some explanation and they will understand.
Fasting more than 16 hours
The month of Ramadhan in Japan comes in the summer, where sun will rise earlier and sunset become longer, makes fasting in Japan is 16 hours a day. In Japan, sahur start around 02.00 in the early morning, start fasting around 03.00 and breakfasting around 19.00.
Breakfasting together
Almost all mosques in Japan has iftal or breakfasting for free, with various foods from various countries, attended also by Muslims from various countries. There, we can feel the warmness of interaction with Muslim brothers and sisters.
Breakfasting than followed by maghrib pray, tarawih pray, and lectures.
Tarawih pray as well as 5 prays in mosques or halls do not use loudspeaker that sounded out, it’s only sounded inside the room. This is a form of tolerance to let Japanese society surroundings keep convenient.
Gathered with fellow Muslims in Japan
In welcoming the month of Ramadan, Muslims in Japan will share happiness with their fellow Muslims. Usually, Muslims also form a Ramadhan committee that is in charge of organizing activities during Ramadan, starting from the Islamic dialogue until the publication Islamic book.
Those are some interesting side in enjoying Ramadhan in Japan.
Fasting in Japan teaches that mutual respect for other people is the key to make Islam more appreciated.
Ramadhan Kareem!
