*Christeena Song is an incoming third year student at Emory University (USA) and 2008 summer intern in HURIGHTS OSAKA.
Muslims in Japan have widely retained their sense of religious and cultural identity and have generally been established as members of Japanese society; however, the Japanese public must continue to accept these religious and cultural differences in order to maintain a functional society in which the rights of all people are protected. Muslims in Japan
There are an estimated 70,000 Muslims in Japan, out of which 90% are male resident foreigners coming mainly from Indonesia, Pakistan, Iran and Bangladesh, and 10% are Japanese.
Many of the Japanese Muslims are women who converted to Islam through their marriage to Muslim men.Muslims in Japan often encounter the problem of findinghalalfood products that are permissible according to Islamic law. These products usually exclude pork, alcoholic beverages, and also refer to the method used in animal meat preparation. Women, both foreign Muslims and Japanese Muslims, also face the issue of wearing the hijab, a cloth cover that covers different amounts and areas of the woman depending on individual interpretation, teachings, cultural backgrounds, etc. Though there have been several instances of harassment towards Muslims in Japan, it appears that these incidents are gradually decreasing through time. Mosques and the Media
As mosques are the only places that are exclusively for Muslims, mosques in Japan play a vital, multi-purposed role. A hundred years ago, there were only two mosques in Japan, now there are around forty. During Ramadan, the month of fasting, many Muslims come to the mosques in order to celebrate with their fellow Muslims. Mosques are also used to hold Islamic study sessions and weddings, with space for offices and places for relaxation. Mosques are places where Muslims can gather, worship, and socialize, though not all Muslims go to mosques. Other than information distributed by mosques and Muslim Associations, the majority of information on the Islamic world the Japanese public receives is through the mass media. After the September 11th tragedy, which killed twenty-four Japanese citizens, the relatively indifferent Japanese perception on Islam has become tinged with fear. More than ever before, it is imperative to separate the media's cloudy political influence from real experiences of the human heart. Going Mainstream
Muslims in Japanese society face no particular mal- treatment, as all foreigners in Japan must deal with similar forms of discrimination. As it is with many societies, those who adapt to a new society's way of life are far more likely to be accepted. Japan is no exception; most Japanese people do not have a particular discriminating attitude towards Muslims. However, those who openly bring their religion to not only the public, but also their work place, may be faced with cultural barriers. Though these incidents are rare, they still present a problem for practicing Muslims. Especially in the work place, devout Muslims who pray five times a day for ten-minute intervals will find it difficult to fit into a culture in which constant hard work is expected and highly valued. Though this may be a source of discomfort for some, many Muslims have found ways to compromise by making up prayers after work that may have been missed during work hours. Liza, an Indonesian Muslim studying at Kyoto University, says that many practicing Muslims can "collect" prayers that have been missed during certain parts of the day or night. In this way, many Muslims have managed to adhere to both Japanese and Muslim lifestyles.
Its not a crime to be a patriot , Its a crime to incite violence.These young men are outraged about the Sydney riots as we all are however there idea that a violent confrontation with the isamic extreamists is obviously a bad one. The islamic youth how incite the riots are being arrested too so......
I was in Sydney yesterday I saw the beginnings of their prepations its been all over facebook & twitter.Its going to go down worse than the cronulla riots & sadly 2 arrests are not going to be the end of it . The youth who held the placards of hate have done ireputable damage to australias multicultural levels of acceptance.Even the extreame left are shocked and appalled at what s happened NOONE THINKS THIS IS ACCEPTABLE !
Hi Merri, Yes I can see your point as I too have reflected ,I come from a christian background however I have my own slant on all that, I have faith thats different to religion.In saying that the movie thatsome extreamists have used to incite hatred is really just a tongue in cheek dig at a religion, my post above related to the simalartites that christian may have felt ( offence ) at "The life of Brian" or catholics in particular at "The meaning of life "Personally I love Monty Python 7 even have a baby brian in my nativiety scene lol Ofcourse The Islamic movie has been done in a much blacker mindset its still "a movie " Sure be offended but keep it in context .
I think what your suggesting here Martia is called Apartheid ...Personally ide find a world divided by peoples beliefs to be sterile and uninteresting.The only recipe for world peace is acceptance not intolorance.
Hi Dao , My advice is to forget what has gone before , we all have been thru times where we have lost confidence in ourselves ,the trick is to put it behind you.Buy some new threads ,practice some relaxation tecniques and hit the night spots , be confident , smile , make eye contact, Write a list of 6 things you know about work on some interesting key points to chat about , travel, music. etc.Listen when your fem speaks girls like to know thier male is interested in what they say. Read some Mens health mags they give great guides to love making and interaction.most important have fun !!!
I dont need the money(well not desparate anyway) ofcourse money never goes astray but thats not the point , not once did he mention seeing his daughter , or stepping up to plate in the future .My little girl has been walking around with a dad shaped hole in her heart for 7 years !! He lives 5 minutes away yet wont come and see her , Its very very painful to see ,He will say hi to her at the shops or drive by & wave ...heart crushing stuff. We were married for 11 yrs he left when she was 5 Ive a 14 yr old who loves her dad even now ,Thats unconditional love for you!
He just asked If ide loan him $500 at least. I have derived some satidsfaction knowing that he has noone in his life that can lend him a dime
we reap what we sow And No hes not getting a cent outta me !
Everything I earn goes intro my family we are very close My son is in Uni and daughter in Highschool , her mobile plan alone is $40 month . Im just trying not to be mad but i cant help it i think he has a lot of nerve asking for it back ,your right kids are expensive , anyone else doing the Uni thing???
When so much eveidence is apparent some measures need to be implimented to protect people from themselves. Many people are born with addictive personality traits, If Herion was legal there would be junkies on everystreet however because of the rapid & immediatly apparent detrimental effect that herion has on peoples health & lives it is banned.Smoking has been now proven to cause disease in the human species, its effects can be not onlt inflicted on the direct recipiant but also those in the immediate vicinity!! Remember people this wont effect you!! But it will stop your grandkids embarking on a life of addiction.
Hey Wash, tommorrow will mark the 4 yr anniversary of my last ciggarette.It one of the most addictive drugs there are , our mind and body will fight our common sence just for one more drag and when we take it , its not as great as anticipated but it does feed the beast,& that nagging pang deep in our soul is quite for 20 mninutes or so.... I gave up using the drug Champix , for me it worked took the pills stopped , no craving no pangs , no drama. If the goverment proceeds with this plan our grandkids will never have to feel that nagging pang of withdrawal a generation of tabacco free people wow !!!
Most smokers regret the descision to smoke ,It makes sense to make it harder to aquire.The health costs to our nation are extreame , 20,000 people die from it every year ! Man thats alot of grief , families torn apart, children denied a father , mothers saying farewell to their babies .....all for what another drag of foul smelling toxic air?Doesnt make alot of sense does it ?
Maybe if "die hard" and I mean the term literally as gasping for breathe isnt pleasant ide imagine , are against the idea they should at least pay their own health care costs.
It has been proposed that In 6 years it will be illegal for anyone born in the year 2000 or after to purchace ciggarettes as It will be illegal.
Keeping in mind that people who already smoke wont be affected It just attempts to prevent children from starting, knowing that how people get hooked on nicotine. Ingenious. I cant see that even smokers would be against it , After all we all know the health risks.
kizzy27 Forum Posts (7,413)
RE: Something's missing