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Between us, it’s impossible to count how many times our friends and family have said things like “I would love to go Japan!” or “I’ve always wanted to learn Japanese” or “What’s it like to be a Muslim in Japan?”. Alas, we decided to come together to create a brand that encompasses and comprehensively answers all these questions and more.
The two of us were introduced to each other by phone through a mutual friend and spoke for over an hour, going back and forth between English and Japanese. That day (which was only early 2023!) we felt a sense of real connection. To speak about Islam with a brother in the Japanese language awoke a sense of direction and meaning for the both of us.
After only a few months of knowing each other, the monumental idea of facilitating our First Ever Muslim Friendly Tour of Tokyo came upon us. After visiting Japan, we realised Launching Sakura Salam - All Things Islam and Japan. Although this is just the beginning of our journey, it feels like we’ve been brothers for years and years and that Allah has allowed us to meet to commit to this goal we share. We ask Allah to keep us sincere and work with Ihsan in everything we do. Ameen.
What made me want to study Japanese? Nope, it wasn’t a fanatic love for anime. To be completely honest with you guys, I attended a secondary school that offered Japanese as a subject. It wasn’t a classy or posh school like you may be thinking, they just happened to offer it! So I went from GCSE to A Level to University study of the Japanese language Alhamdulilah.
My first trip to Japan was in 2013 and I visited Tokyo, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima and Miyajima. It opened my eyes to a whole new world and culture of people. From then on, my love for Japan and the Japanese language grew immensely.
Since then, I’ve completed a degree in Politics and Japanese from SOAS, University of London, lived and worked in Japan and continue to study and research all things Islam and Japan. I have a deep love for meeting new Muslims, spreading Islam and growing the Ummah. I genuinely look forward to meeting all those who join us on our journey at Sakura Salam.
Born in Miyazaki and brought up in Yokohama, Japan. Like any other Japanese kid, my teenage years revolved around the daily grind of school commutes and immersing myself in the world of Bukatsu (afterschool club).
In 2016, my life took a completely unexpected turn with the change of my father’s job…I was off to the UK to pursue my A-levels. Here I crossed path with a "Mohammed” for the first time in my life. As I navigated through my degree at UCL, I was able to encounter Muslims with remarkable personalities and manners.
Alhamdulillah after some time in 2021, I was guided to accepting Islam. Now with Sakura Salam, I see a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the intersection of my faith and roots. I am excited to be able to share this passion with you all, all things Islam and Japan—let's embark on this exciting journey together, InshaAllah!
For BROTHERS & SISTERS who would really like to get to know us, join our group where we review London’s best Halal Japanese restaurants on a monthly basis. We look forward to meeting all of you!
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