Classification of Conversion to Islam in Japan: Focusing on Various Experiences besides Marriage

DOI

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 日本におけるイスラームへの改宗プロセスの分類―「結婚」に還元されない諸経験に着目して―
Published
2021-06-05
DOI
  • 10.20594/religionandsociety.27.0_65
Publisher
The Japanese Association for the Study of Religion and Society

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Description

<p>This paper classifies the conversion of Japanese Muslims by focusing on their experiences before conversion. Previous studies consider most Japanese Muslims to have converted to Islam through marriage, and their experiences outside of marriage were not sufficiently considered. To overcome this limitation, I first discuss some analytical frameworks found in previous studies on converts in Europe and the United States, “converts of convenience” and “converts of conviction (conscience),” as well as “relational conversion” and “rational conversion.” Using these frameworks, I then analyze and classify Japanese converts’ experiences found in the data from interviews and conversion testimonies. It should be noted that relational conversion, which is brought about by interaction with Muslims in daily life and overseas travel, and rational conversion, which is triggered by reading the Qur’an and discussions in Islamic study circles, often overlap, even in Japan. Focusing on the various experiences of Japanese Muslim converts, which cannot be reduced to a single category, this study provides a new perspective to reexamine both the conventional portrayal of the Japanese self-image and the representation of Muslims as “others,” and to tackle the issue of kyōsei (symbiosis, conviviality, or coexistence) in multicultural Japan today.</p>

Journal

  • Religion and Society

    Religion and Society 27 (0), 65-80, 2021-06-05

    The Japanese Association for the Study of Religion and Society

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