What Does "1 in 4" Mean?
This is the proportion of the world's population who are Muslims. In Japan, however, only about 1 in 700 people are Muslim. There probably aren't many people in Japan who personally know a Muslim.
When you want to learn about something unfamiliar, manga can be a great way to do it. An Iranian-born man who was once called a "terrorist" by his classmates is using manga to share the real lives of Muslims with the world from Japan.
What Comes to Mind When You Hear "Islam"?
Covering skin? Fasting? No alcohol? Or "dangerous"? For many people with no connection to Muslims, Islam can seem like a mystery. That's where "Muslim Manga" comes in—a term for manga set in Islamic regions or depicting the lives of Muslims.
One relatively well-known work is "Satoko and Nada" by Yupechika, depicting the lighthearted daily interactions between a Japanese woman and a Muslim woman who become roommates at an American university. It's become popular for humorously conveying Islamic culture.
"You're a Terrorist"...
Last month (November), an event about Muslim manga was held in Tokyo. Hamed Nouri (27), originally from Iran, currently teaches English at a Tokyo high school while creating Muslim manga.
At the event, Hamed appealed: "I want people to learn the truth about Islam and feel positive about it."
Hamed, born to an Iranian father and American mother, is a Muslim. What inspired him to draw Muslim manga was being called a "terrorist" by a classmate during his high school years in America.
"I was young and it hurt deeply. These comments come from ignorance about Islam. To varying degrees, there are misconceptions and stereotypes in America, Europe, and Japan too." — Hamed
The repeated news coverage of terrorism and conflict by a small number of extremists has, he feels, created a false image that "Islam = dangerous religion."
How Can People Learn the Truth About Islam?
Thinking about this, Hamed found his answer in Japanese manga. Having grown up with manga like "Captain Tsubasa" and "Yu-Gi-Oh!", Hamed believes manga has tremendous power.
"Manga has spread worldwide and made many people interested in Japanese culture. Through the combination of art and dialogue, even complex topics can become naturally understandable. Manga was what connected my interests with my faith." — Hamed
Islam, High School, and Pure Love
Last year, Hamed moved to Japan on his own to pursue his passion. One of his works is "Love of Hana and Hana" (花と花の愛). Despite being Muslim manga, the art style is similar to mainstream Japanese manga.
Set in a Japanese high school, the protagonist Hana falls in love at first sight with a classmate. One day during lunch break, she follows him to the school rooftop and witnesses him in prayer—barefoot, using his uniform jacket as a mat.
Learning that he's a Muslim with Japanese and Indonesian parents, Hana becomes interested in Islam as she wants to know more about him.
"Through Hana's perspective—someone with no knowledge of Islam—I thought Japanese readers could also learn about the peace-seeking nature of Islam." — Hamed
The Growing Muslim Manga Community
To spread Muslim manga to more people, Hamed launched the website "Muslim Manga" at muslimmanga.org.
The site features over 50 works by artists from Indonesia, America, the UK, the Philippines, and more. While currently focused on English content, readers span over 20 countries, with Japan being the 4th largest source of traffic after Malaysia, Indonesia, and America.
Through this site, Hamed connected with a Muslim woman from the Philippines, and they're now collaborating on a new work—despite never meeting in person, communicating only through email and video chat.
Where Can I Find Halal Food?
Their new work's theme is halal food. The story follows Muslim siblings visiting Japan who struggle to find halal restaurants.
"While halal restaurants in Tokyo are increasing, they're still limited overall. It may take time, but there's so much I want people to know about Muslims—from halal food to securing places for the five daily prayers." — Hamed
With the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics approaching (at the time of the article), Hamed shared his hopes:
"Muslims live not just in the Middle East but throughout Asia. For building friendly relations, while it's important for foreign tourists to learn Japanese language and culture, it's equally important for Japanese people to understand foreign cultures and customs." — Hamed
Understanding, One Person at a Time
In recent years, understanding of Muslims has been growing. Websites introducing halal restaurants in Japan now list over 900 establishments, and awareness has increased significantly. Development of mobile "Mosque Cars" for use at Olympic venues was also underway, as public and private sectors prepared to welcome Muslim visitors.
But what about us as individuals? I want to learn more about different cultures and ideas, and be someone who can help foreigners in need. I hope the Olympics in Japan will be an opportunity that makes visitors want to return again.
Article originally published by NHK "Mirai Switch" series, 2018. Translated from Japanese.