Prayer facilities proliferate in Japan as Muslims population grows

The growing trend for businesses targeting the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims as a lucrative market is evidenced by the widespread setting up of prayer facilities at universities and commercial establishments around Japan.

The growing trend for businesses targeting the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims as a lucrative market is evidenced by the widespread setting up of prayer facilities at universities and commercial establishments around Japan.

The development comes at a time when an unprecedented number of tourists and students are coming to Japan from the Islamic world, which accounts for one-fifth of the global population.

Aside from the economic potential, it is intended both as a measure of consideration for Muslims and a way of allowing them to visit commercial facilities in a more carefree manner.

Rikkyo University in Tokyo’s Toshima Ward, which has plans to increase its number of non-Japanese students to 2,000 by 2024, opened a prayer room in April.