← Back to Halal Seikatsu App
🌟 Muslim Inspirations in Japan
Discover inspiring Muslims who made history in Japan — from famous wrestlers and fashion designers to politicians, entrepreneurs and community builders.
13 inspiring profiles across sports, fashion, politics, business, entertainment, academia and community.
Antonio Inoki (Muhammad Hussain Inoki) (アントニオ猪木（ムハンマド・フセイン・猪木）)
Category: sports
Nationality: Japanese
Achievement: WWE Hall of Fame inductee, founder of NJPW, Muslim peace ambassador, Japanese parliamentarian
Born in Yokohama in 1943, Antonio Inoki became one of the greatest professional wrestlers in history, founding New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in 1972. His legendary 1976 bout with Muhammad Ali — a prototype MMA fight watched by millions — cemented his global fame. In 1990, inspired by his friendship with Muhammad Ali (also a Muslim), Inoki converted to Islam and later took the name Muhammad Hussain Inoki. As a politician, he served in Japan's parliament and in 1990 was sent as a special envoy to Iraq to negotiate the release of 39 Japanese hostages from Saddam Hussein — succeeding where diplomats had failed. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010, the first Japanese person ever to receive this honor. He championed peace between Japan and the Muslim world until his passing in 2022, aged 79.
"When I converted, people suggested I change my name to Muhammad Ali — but I had already fought the great Ali. I chose my own path."
Hana Tajima (ハナ・タジマ)
Category: fashion
Nationality: British-Japanese
Achievement: First designer to bring hijab collections to UNIQLO, pioneer of global modest fashion movement
Born in 1986 to an English mother and Japanese father, Hana Tajima converted to Islam at age 18 after reading the Quran. Rather than abandoning fashion, she reimagined it. She launched her modest wear label Maysaa and became one of the first designers to prove that Islamic modest fashion could be both contemporary and globally appealing. Her breakthrough came when she partnered with Japanese retail giant UNIQLO — making UNIQLO the first major high-street brand in the world to sell hijabs. The collection debuted in Southeast Asia in 2015 and expanded to the US and UK in 2016. Now on her seventh collection with UNIQLO, Tajima has become one of the most influential figures in the $300 billion global modest fashion market. Living in Japan with her family, she continues to design clothing that bridges Japanese minimalism, British style, and Islamic modesty — inspiring millions of Muslim women worldwide.
"Modesty is not a constraint — it is a vocabulary. A way of expressing who you are through what you choose to reveal and conceal."
https://www.hanatajima.com
Hind Hitomi Remon (ヒンド・ひとみ・レモン)
Category: community
Nationality: Japanese (converted)
Achievement: Director at Japan Halal Association, spearheaded Japan's first halal miso certification, prominent Japanese Muslim voice
Hind Hitomi Remon is a Japanese Muslim convert who has dedicated her career to building Japan's halal infrastructure. As a director at the Japan Halal Association (JHA), she has been instrumental in growing Japan's halal certification ecosystem — working with Japanese food manufacturers, restaurants, and hospitality businesses to obtain certification and serve the Muslim community. She is one of Japan's most prominent Japanese Muslim women, speaking publicly about her faith, her identity as a Japanese Muslim, and the challenges and joys of practicing Islam in Japan. Her work helped the JHA approve Japan's first halal-certified miso paste manufacturer in Nagano in 2012 — a landmark achievement that opened doors for Japanese cuisine to reach Muslim markets worldwide. She represents the growing community of Japanese converts who are reshaping what it means to be Muslim in Japan.
"This halal certification enables Japanese cuisine to be welcomed in Muslim countries — and encourages other Japanese producers to explore their possibilities."
Ken Minowa (Padma Co.) (蓑輪賢（パドマ株式会社）)
Category: business
Nationality: Japanese
Achievement: Founder of Padma Co. (30+ years halal imports) and Bongo Bazar, Japan's pioneering halal supermarket
Ken Minowa is the founder and president of Padma Co., one of Japan's longest-running halal food import and wholesale companies. For over 30 years, his company has been quietly building the supply chain that feeds Japan's Muslim community — importing halal-certified products and distributing them to restaurants, mosques, and Muslim households across the country. In March 2020, even as the COVID-19 pandemic was just beginning, Minowa made a bold bet — opening Bongo Bazar, a full-scale Japanese-style halal supermarket in Misato City, near Tokyo. The gamble paid off spectacularly: Muslims traveled over 100 kilometers from Tokyo just to shop there, demonstrating the enormous unmet demand for accessible halal groceries in Japan. His three decades of persistence in a niche market that most Japanese businesses ignored laid essential groundwork for Japan's growing halal ecosystem.
"Our company has been importing halal food for 30 years — the obvious next step was a Japanese-style supermarket that truly meets Muslim residents' needs."
Mukmin Nantang (ムクミン・ナンタン)
Category: business
Nationality: Malaysian
Achievement: Founder & CEO of Halalu Foods, creating Japan's first halal-certified Japanese souvenir food line in Kyoto
Mukmin Nantang is the young founder and CEO of Halalu Foods, a Kyoto-based startup creating what may become Japan's first halal-certified Japanese souvenir food line. His story started with a simple act of kindness — right after finishing school in Malaysia, he noticed two Japanese girls struggling with a locker at Universal Studios Singapore. Unable to speak Japanese, he could not help them. That moment changed his life. He enrolled at Utsunomiya University in Japan, learned Japanese fluently, and fell in love with the country. While studying biology, he noticed a critical gap — Muslim tourists loved Japan but could not bring home authentic Japanese food souvenirs because none were halal certified. He dropped everything, invested over RM100,000 (his own savings), faced dozens of rejections from investors and manufacturers, and eventually launched Halalu Foods. His first product: a halal-certified Japanese biscuit made with local ingredients. At just 24 years old, he is building bridges between Japan's rich food culture and the world's 1.8 billion Muslims.
"This is not just about Malaysia. It is about Islam. About creating space for Muslims to feel seen in a country they admire."
Rola (ローラ) (ローラ)
Category: entertainment
Nationality: Japanese-Bangladeshi
Achievement: Top Japanese supermodel, TV personality, singer, actress with 6M+ Instagram followers
Born Eri Sato in Tokyo in 1990 to a Bangladeshi Muslim father and a half-Japanese, half-Russian mother, Rola grew up between Japan and Bangladesh before being scouted on the streets of Tokyo as a teenager. Her unique look, energetic personality, and genuine warmth propelled her to become one of Japan's most famous celebrities. She is a regular face on Japanese television, a model for the prestigious fashion magazine Vivi, a singer, and an actress. With nearly 6 million Instagram followers, she is among the top social media personalities in Japan. Despite her superstar status, Rola remains connected to her Bangladeshi roots and has met Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus to discuss social business initiatives. She represents a new generation of Japanese Muslims — people who are proudly both Japanese and Muslim, breaking stereotypes and building bridges between cultures in one of the world's most homogeneous societies.
"I only have fun memories — even when I could not communicate, I just made friends."
Shinya Yokoyama (横山慎也)
Category: business
Nationality: Japanese
Achievement: Co-founder of Food Diversity Inc., Japan's largest halal food platform serving 350,000+ Muslims
Shinya Yokoyama is the co-founder of Food Diversity Inc. (formerly Halal Media Japan) — Japan's largest and most influential halal food information platform. His journey began in 2013 when he invited a Muslim friend to dinner in Singapore and realized he had no idea where to find halal food. That moment of helplessness became his life's work. Back in Japan, he built Halal Media Japan from zero, creating the country's first comprehensive database of halal restaurants, prayer spaces, and Muslim-friendly services. The platform has since expanded to cover vegan, vegetarian, and allergen-free dining too. Today, Food Diversity Inc. is the go-to resource for both Muslims living in Japan and the hundreds of thousands of Muslim tourists visiting each year. Yokoyama speaks regularly at international halal conferences including the World Halal Conference and Halal in Travel Global Summit, positioning Japan as a Muslim-friendly destination on the world stage.
"I could not find halal food for my Muslim friend in Singapore — so I came back to Japan and built the solution myself."
https://fooddiversity.today
Sultan Nour (スルタン・ヌール)
Category: politics
Nationality: Japanese (naturalized)
Achievement: First Arab Muslim elected to a Japanese local government assembly (Shonai Town, Yamagata, 2021)
Born in Aleppo, Syria in 1971, Sultan Nour fell in love with Japan at age 4 when he began practicing karate. He graduated from a sports university in Egypt where he worked as a swimming coach for the Ministry of Youth and Sport. In 2001, through a JICA cultural exchange program, he came to Yamagata Prefecture to teach swimming — and never stopped thinking about Japan. He returned, learned Japanese fluently, became a Japanese citizen in 2013, and built deep roots in rural Yamagata. In July 2021, he made history by winning a seat on the Shonai Town Assembly — becoming the first Arab Muslim ever elected to a local government assembly in Japan. His campaign focused on listening to residents, building community bridges, and using his unique perspective as an outsider-turned-insider to help rural Japan navigate an increasingly diverse future. His story is a powerful reminder that belonging is built through commitment, not birthplace.
"Listening and lending your support is the best thing you can do to help someone — and that is what I came to Japan to do."
Yamada Torajiro (山田寅次郎)
Category: business
Nationality: Japanese
Achievement: First Japanese Muslim merchant in Ottoman Turkey, key figure in Japan-Turkey friendship, Islamic scholar
Yamada Torajiro (1866–1957) was a Japanese merchant, Muslim convert, and remarkable bridge-builder between Japan and the Ottoman Empire. He first traveled to Ottoman Turkey in 1890 bearing Japanese condolences and donations after the Ertugrul shipwreck disaster — an event that forged a deep bond between Japan and Turkey that persists to this day. Yamada converted to Islam, took the name Torajiro Omar Yamada, learned Turkish and Arabic, and spent years living in Istanbul. He became a key figure in early Japanese-Ottoman diplomatic and commercial relations, establishing trade networks and writing extensively about Muslim culture for Japanese audiences. His legacy lives on in the warm friendship between Japan and Turkey, and in the Ertugrul memorial that stands in Wakayama Prefecture to this day.
"A ship can sail between any two ports — it is the captain's heart that determines the destination."
Dewi Sukarno (デヴィ・スカルノ)
Category: entertainment
Nationality: Indonesian-Japanese
Achievement: Former Indonesian First Lady, Muslim convert, prominent Japanese TV personality and socialite
Born Naoko Sato in Tokyo in 1940, Dewi Sukarno's life story reads like a novel. She worked as a hostess in Tokyo's entertainment district before meeting Indonesian President Sukarno, becoming his third wife in 1962. She converted to Islam upon marriage, taking the name Ratna Sari Dewi Sukarno. After Sukarno's fall from power and his death in 1970, she rebuilt her life — becoming a celebrated socialite, author, and TV personality in both Japan and Indonesia. Fluent in Japanese, Indonesian, and French, she has appeared on countless Japanese television programs and remains one of the most recognizable faces in Japanese entertainment. Her remarkable journey from Tokyo to Jakarta's presidential palace and back represents the deep human connections between Japan and the Muslim world.
"Life is not what happens to you — it is what you make of what happens to you."
Ertugrul Connection: Yamada Torajiro's Legacy (エルトゥールル号とヤマダの遺産)
Category: business
Nationality: Japanese
Achievement: The Ertugrul tragedy created Japan-Turkey friendship that saved 215 Japanese lives in 1985 — kindness repaid across 95 years
In 1890, the Ottoman warship Ertugrul sank off the coast of Wakayama Prefecture during a violent storm, killing 581 sailors. Japanese villagers risked their lives to rescue 69 survivors, providing food, clothing, and care before sending them safely home to Istanbul. This act of extraordinary kindness forged a deep and lasting friendship between Japan and Turkey — and by extension, the Muslim world. Japanese merchant Yamada Torajiro, who had already developed deep ties with Ottoman Turkey, helped carry donations and condolences from Japan to Istanbul, later converting to Islam. Today, a memorial to the Ertugrul stands in Kushimoto, Wakayama — and Turkey has never forgotten Japan's kindness. In 1985, when Iran's airspace became dangerous during the Iran-Iraq War, Turkey sent two military aircraft to evacuate 215 stranded Japanese citizens — because "the Japanese helped our ancestors 95 years ago." This bond, born from tragedy and compassion, remains one of the most remarkable examples of Japan-Muslim friendship in history.
"The villagers of Wakayama gave everything they had to save strangers from a distant land. That is the spirit of Japan — and the spirit of humanity."
Nazaya Zulaikha (ナザヤ・ズライハ)
Category: community
Nationality: Indonesian
Achievement: Halal tourism advocate at Food Diversity Inc., training Japan's hospitality sector on Muslim-friendly practices
Nazaya Zulaikha is an Indonesian Muslim influencer, food diversity advocate, and cultural bridge-builder based in Japan. Working with Food Diversity Inc., she has dedicated herself to helping Japan's tourism and hospitality industry understand and serve Muslim visitors. From training hotel staff about halal requirements to teaching restaurant owners about prayer needs, Nazaya works at the intersection of Japanese hospitality culture and Islamic practice. She regularly conducts seminars for tourist information centers, hotels, restaurants, and tourism organizations, helping them navigate food diversity including halal, vegetarian, and allergen-free dining. Her work is quietly transforming how Japan serves its growing Muslim visitor community — proving that cultural understanding is the real ingredient for Muslim-friendly hospitality.
"Japan is a highly tolerant society — it just needs knowledge. Once Japanese businesses understand Muslim needs, they embrace them wholeheartedly."
Tani Yutaka (谷豊)
Category: academia
Nationality: Japanese
Achievement: Pioneer Japanese Muslim scholar, one of Japan's first converts to Islam, Arabic translator
Tani Yutaka (1889–1945) was one of Japan's earliest Muslim converts, a remarkable scholar and explorer who embraced Islam in the early 20th century. He studied Arabic and Islamic theology deeply, producing some of the first Japanese translations and explanations of Islamic texts. His work opened doors for Japanese-Muslim dialogue at a time when Islam was almost completely unknown in Japan. He traveled extensively across Muslim lands, building bridges between Japanese and Islamic civilization during a critical historical period. Though less known today than he deserves, Tani Yutaka stands as a pioneer — proof that the connection between Japan and Islam stretches back over a century, far longer than most Japanese realize.
"To understand another civilization is to understand yourself more deeply."
Halal Seikatsu — Free Muslim life support app for Japan 🕌