Salaam - Islam and the Empire of Japan

As-salaam alaykum. I wanted to share a simple overview of how Islam interacted with the Empire of Japan (1868–1945), keeping it focused on historical facts and Muslim connections. The Empire of Japan rose after the Edo period, moving away from the old sakoku isolation. It later fell in 1945 after events that brought the United States into the Second World War and the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which ended broad public support for militarism. Modern Japan is now a democratic nation and no longer follows the militaristic imperial model of that era. 1870–1900: - Al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya: In the late 1870s the Prophet’s biography was translated into Japanese, helping introduce Islamic history and teachings to some Japanese readers as part of broader cultural histories. - The Ertugrul frigate: In 1890 Sultan Abdülhamid II sent the Ottoman frigate Ertugrul as a respectful naval mission to Japan because Prince Komatsu Akihito had visited Constantinople earlier. Sadly, on 16 September 1890 the Ertugrul was wrecked by a storm off Wakayama Prefecture. - First Japanese convert: After the shipwreck some Ottoman crew were aided by the Imperial Japanese Navy to return home. A Japanese journalist who helped them, Shotaro Noda, is associated with the earliest known Japanese conversion during a stay in Constantinople. 1900–1945: - Late Meiji period: In the later Meiji years some Japanese influenced by Pan-Asian ideas found common ground with Muslims confronting Western colonial powers, and contacts grew. - Propaganda campaigns: Around 1906 there were reports and rumors aimed at Muslim audiences suggesting Japan might embrace Islam officially or that the Emperor might convert - these were part of political messaging and attempts to build ties with Muslim countries. Nationalist groups also pushed for government recognition of multiple religions and for cultural outreach to Muslim regions in Southeast Asia. - Refuge for Tatars: During upheaval in the Russian Empire, several Tatar Muslims found asylum in Japan and formed small communities in major cities, which increased local exposure to Islam. - Omar Yamaoka: Contacts with Muslim visitors and residents led to some Japanese conversions. A notable figure, Kotaro Yamaoka, later known as Omar Yamaoka, converted after meeting Muslim activists and is reported to have been the first Japanese to perform Hajj. Support for his pilgrimage came from various groups, including some nationalist circles. One stated aim of these early Muslim leaders was to gain approval for establishing a mosque in Tokyo. - Tokyo Mosque: In 1910 Ottoman approval was given for a Tokyo mosque project, and with financial backing the mosque was eventually completed on 12 May 1938. Early imams included Muslim scholars who had come from abroad. - Greater Japan Muslim League: Founded in 1930, this was an early official Islamic organisation in Japan. During the wartime years imperial circles supported research and publications about Islam; over a hundred books and journals on Islam appeared in the empire, partly to prepare officials and soldiers to understand the Muslim world. - Kobe Mosque: The Kobe Mosque, completed in 1935 with help from the local Turko-Tatar merchant community and foreign architects, was the first major mosque building. It survived wartime bombings and later events, continuing to serve as a Muslim landmark. Note: This summary focuses on the Empire of Japan period (1868–1945) and does not cover postwar developments. May Allah guide us to learn from history and strengthen ties of understanding between peoples. JazākAllāhu khayran.