COMPLETION REPORTThe Development of Halal Food in Japan: Tourism and Muslim's Identity Construction in Japan(Case Study in Tokyo and Osaka)

Dr. Suhadi
Lecturer & Head of Research Department
Graduate School
Gadjah Mada University
Muslims form a sizeable population in the world that is around 23.2% (Pew 2012). They have unique traditions
which one among others is related to the halal practice. The word “halal” means “permissible” or “lawful”.
Opposite to halal is haram, which means unlawful or forbidden. All foods are considered halal except thefollowing: swine/pork and its by product or derivative, animals not slaughtered according to Islamic requirement,
alcohol and intoxicant, blood and blood by product, foods contaminated by any of the aforementioned products.
The main questions of this research are: First, what is the reason behind the emergence of halal-friendly tourism
developed in Japan? Second, how far does Japan develop halal-friendly tourism currently?
The emergence of halal-friendly tourism developed in Japan has an economic reason. Japanese government andtourism industry have been trying to promote the travel to Japan, including for Muslims who's share is very low.
Japan Tourism Agency-Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism report 2013 on the section ofguests by nationality (4th quarter of 20111) mentions that China (18.1%), Taiwan (13.3%), and the Republic ofKorea (11.2% ) rank first, second, and third in the total number of foreigner guests. Whereas South East Asian
countries’ share is low: Singapore (3.3%) and Thailand (2.7%). The inbound tourists from two majority Muslim
countries in South East Asia, Indonesia and Malaysia, are even lower than from aforementioned countries, i.e.
tourists from Malaysia reaches 1.4% of total inbound tourist and tourists from Indonesia are not significant yet. Inaddition the percentage of inbound tourists from other Muslim countries in Middle East and Central Asia are also
in insignificance numbers. That is why it is reasonable that Japanese government and tourism industry have been
trying stronger currently to promote the travel to Japan for Muslims travelers from Muslim to increase its tourism
market. Providing halal-friendly tourism service is an aptly strategy to invite Muslim travelers to come to Japan
since, as represented at some online travel guide, many of them often ask whether there is halal foods in Japan ornot? The halal-friendly tourism is one of promising halal industry in Japan currently.

Besides driven by economic factors, the development of halal-friendly industry in general or halal-friendly tourism
in Japan for more specific is motivated by some Muslim NPOs (Non-Profit Organizations) that want to strengthen
the identity of Japanese Muslims and of Muslims who travel to Japan (Muslim international tourists). Those NPOs
such as Islamic Center Japan, Japan Muslim Association (JMA), Nippon Asia Halal Association (NAHA), andJapan Halal Association (JHA) publish the halal certificate more often currently than years ago. JHA which is themost developed Muslim NPO on halal affair also offers the installation of qibla (prayer direction) mark at hotel or
public prayer rooms, halal manager training, halal auditor training, and halal kitchen cleansing service.
On how far does Japan develop halal-friendly tourism currently, the research found that the government, thetourism agencies, and the society in Japan have starting to develop halal-friendly tourism, but still in a fairly limited
scope. The identity construction on halal tourism in Japan relates to two concerns: to maintain religiously permitted
foods and to keep five day prayers of Muslim visitors. Whereas the five times prayer is part of the Islamic pillars
then Muslims should keep it whenever they are, including when they are in travel. Some hotels and tourism

agencies (in numbers are not many, compared to the total number of hotels in Japan) realize about the obligation ofMuslims to perform five times prayers a day. They provide proper facilities for Muslim visitors to pray, forinstance qibla mark. Narita international airport in Tokyo and Kansai international airport close to Osaka provide
prayer rooms inside the airport building. By identifying as Muslim-friendly hotels, besides provide halal foodmenus, some hotels such as Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport, Hotel Granvia Kyoto, Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka,
Park Hyatt Tokyo, Sakura Hotel Hatagaya, Agora Place Asakusa, and Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo serve rooms withqibla mark.
Related to halal food services, local or national companies in Japan began to produce halal chicken, mutton andbeef, but most of them are still imported from Brazil, Australia, or Malaysia. Narita international airport in Tokyoand Kansai international airport close to Osaka provide halal restaurant that offer the halal meal, serve pork-freeand alcohol-free menus. In some big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, etc. some restaurants also serve halal menus.
There are approximately 200 halal restaurants in Japan. They are owned by Muslims and non-Muslims. Inaddition, the halal foodstuff stores, both real and online shops, are also growing. The Japan government at nationaland local level promotes with great enthusiasm halal-friendly tourism such as through publishing a booklet oftourism guide for Muslims, including in Indonesian language. The halal-friendly tourism has been showing its
progress in this country.
Publication of the Results of Research Project:
Verbal Presentation (Date, Venue, Name of Conference, Title of Presentation, Presenter, etc.)-Date: 26 November 2014,-Venue: State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Indonesia-Name of Forum: Discussion in the Institute of Southeast Asian Islam-Title of Presentation: “Halal Tourism di Jepang: Identitas Agama, Wisata, dan Pasar Asia Tenggara”(“Halal Tourism in Japan: Religious Identity, Tourism, and Southeast Asia Market”)-Presenter: Dr. Suhadi

Thesis (Name of Journal and its Date, Title and Author of Thesis, etc.)
Book (Publisher and Date of the Book, Title and Author of the Book, etc.)
I plan to submit the academic article from this research project approximately titled “The Development of HalalFriendly Tourism in Contemporary Japan” in December 2015 to: Journal of Ecumenical Studies based in USA.