It's been a while. This is Katori from the Sales Department.
This may come as a surprise, but there are only two years left until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
We often hear about the economic effects of the Olympics, and as the words suggest, the number of foreign visitors to Japan is increasing every year, and economic benefits are expected in a variety of industries, including the development of transportation and infrastructure, and the construction of accommodation facilities.
It is expected that Muslims from all over the world (hereinafter referred to as "Muslims") will visit Japan, including from Indonesia and Malaysia, which are relatively close to Japan in Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, did you know that there is a certain movement in the food industry?
It seems that an increasing number of food companies are trying to obtain "Halal certification" for food that is OK for Muslims to eat.
I would like to share my perspective on the eating habits of Muslims, which I learned about when I got married to an international couple.
International marriage leads to radically changed eating habits
As already mentioned in the " Work and Life in Yoyogi " and " Member Introduction " articles,
I am married to a Muslim man from Pakistan and we live as a family of three with our four-year-old son.
When you think of Islam, what comes to mind?
Some of the rules include praying five times a day, fasting, not eating pork, and not drinking alcohol, but of these, it is food that has the greatest impact on life.
Currently, the number of Muslims in the world is growing at a rapid rate, exceeding 1.9 billion people.
More than one in four people in the world are Muslim.
Halal Japan Association (General Incorporated Association) http://www.halal.or.jp/halal/halal2.html
In Islamic law, things can be divided into two categories: what is permitted (Halal) and what is forbidden (Haram).
These two terms do not only refer to food, but also to what is permitted or forbidden by God, so for example, lying and stealing are called "haram."
So what exactly are the forbidden "haram" foods?
Most people are familiar with "pork" and "alcohol."
Pork is unclean and cannot be eaten, but other meats such as beef and chicken must be slaughtered in accordance with Islamic teachings. Muslims slaughter and slaughter the animals, reciting the name of God (Allah) and offering prayers.
This does not only apply to meat itself, but also to all foods that are derived from pork or contain animal ingredients, so you cannot eat not only pork extract, but also chicken or beef extract, lard, gelatin found in jelly, gum, and sweets, or animal-derived shortening that is often found in commercially available sweets.
For Muslims, consuming only halal food means faithfully following God's teachings, which is a matter of faith itself.
Of course, my family purchases food with the above in mind, but for me, who has lived here in Japan for many years, it was quite difficult to get used to this kind of lifestyle.
I always check the ingredients label for anything other than vegetables, fruits, fish, eggs, milk, etc.
The meat that we normally buy at the supermarket is almost always out of the question.
I also realized that many of the processed foods and sweets I had never paid any attention to before contain ingredients of animal origin, and I realized that the things I could eat were limited.
Even when eating out, simply skipping or avoiding meat does not make it halal.
Even if you can't tell by looking at it, pasta sauces that contain animal extracts, soups that use bouillon, and vegetables and fish that are fried in the same oil as pork cutlets are forbidden. In that case, strictly speaking, it is also not permitted to use the same pots and dishes that are used to cook animal products. (This varies from person to person, depending on each family and religious beliefs.)
For this reason, I make a homemade lunch for my husband every day, and although my son receives school lunches at nursery school, I also make him bring his own lunch.
Left: For my husband. Fried chicken made with halal chicken.
Right: For my son. I try to make it as close as possible to the school lunch menu.
Given this situation, some people are often concerned that there are too few foods in Japan that Muslims can safely eat.
I certainly find it quite difficult to live here in Japan.
It is also true that as food processing technology advances, it is becoming more difficult for Muslims to determine which foods are safe to eat.
What is Halal Certification?
It is said that a system called "halal certification," which guarantees that a product is halal, was started in Malaysia around 1970.
Have you ever seen a mark like this?
Halal Japan Association (General Incorporated Association) http://www.halal.or.jp/halal/halal3.html
There is not just one halal mark, but apparently there are many certification bodies around the world.
In order to obtain halal certification, it is important to ensure that the entire process does not violate halal standards.
To get it, you have to meet strict criteria.
- All ingredients are Halal
- Chickens and cattle raised on halal feed
- Slaughtering animals by Muslims in a religiously correct manner
- The factory must be far enough away from pig farms.
- Produced using halal machinery and has not come into contact with haram items
- The wrapping or packaging is not haram
In addition, restaurants that have acquired Halal certification
- Must have a Muslim owner or chef
- Do not sell alcohol
- All ingredients and seasonings provided are Halal
Such rules include:
Certification standards vary by country and certification body, so there may be some discrepancies, so what is given here is just an example.
Halal has very strict standards, and it is currently difficult to find Halal ingredients in Japan.
Next, I would like to talk about where you can find Halal certified foods.
Difficulty in obtaining halal food
The thing that bothers me the most is meat.
Not all Muslims are vegetarians. Pakistanis in particular often eat beef, mutton, and chicken. I love meat, just like my husband.
In the past, it was common to be able to easily buy meat at the supermarket, but that is no longer the case.
Halal food seems to be relatively easy to come by in areas of Japan where there are many Muslims living, but if there are no such stores nearby, people often have to travel far to visit a halal food store or purchase it from an online shop.
Recently, it has become easy to purchase on Amazon , but the selection is still limited.
A surprisingly hidden gem is the nationwide Gyomu Super , where you can get a variety of halal foods, including chicken and beef.
Gyomu Super is quite famous among Muslims living in Japan.
Halal food pamphlet at Gyomu Super
Surprisingly, there may be halal foods hidden among the foods you buy without even thinking about it. Be sure to look for the halal mark.
Halal food is hard to come by in Japan, but I recently visited Thailand on a company trip. Although it is a Buddhist country, perhaps because there are Islamic countries nearby, I often saw halal certification marks on in-flight meals and in supermarkets.
These are some of the souvenirs I bought. They are all Halal foods.
If you look closely, you can see that it has the Halal mark.
I went to the Islamic alley in Shin-Okubo
Now, let’s go to a halal food store and buy some ingredients!
There is a halal food store located right next to JR Shin-Okubo Station, which is two stations from Yoyogi.
When you think of Shin-Okubo, you may imagine Korean shops, but there is actually an area called "Islamic Alley"!
The staff at all the stores are foreigners, and the customers are from many different countries.
It takes a bit of courage to go inside the shop, but if you say the Muslim greeting, "assalamu alaikum," they will probably greet you back.
And Japanese is generally understood.
Let's go inside the store.
It is filled with the aroma of spices.
Choosing spices can be a serious process.
Some stores sell spices in small portions for easy use.
Most of the meat is frozen in chunks. My husband's favorite is mutton curry.
Brazilian whole chicken
Kebab shops are very popular at lunchtime.
This time I bought these ingredients.
The bottom left is attar (whole wheat flour). It is used to make bread such as chapati and paratha, which are staple foods. The colorful things to the right are beans. Next to it are chana masala and keema masala. These are mixed spices that are useful when making curry. The jar contains mango achar. It is an Indian version of pickles seasoned with spices, and is my recommendation.
Ramadan, the holiest month for Muslims, has begun
It is Ramadan time again this year.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It shifts forward by about 11 days each year, but this year it will last for about a month from May 17th.
When you think of Ramadan, many people think of "fasting." You may wonder, "Is it okay to fast for an entire month without eating or drinking?" but that's not the case.
From sunrise to sunset, that is, when the sun is out, eating or drinking is forbidden.
You're not even allowed to drink water.
During this time, Muslims give thanks to God by fasting, strengthening their self-control, and empathizing with those less fortunate.
It is therefore the most sacred month of the year.
Food during this time is very different from normal.
The first meal after sunset is called "Iftar." It varies depending on the country and the household, but in my house, we usually have sweet juice, dates, fruit, and pakora, which is similar to tempura.
Dates and Rukh Afza (a sweet syrup with a rose scent. Mix with water or milk and drink.)
One day, we had Iftar at my husband's parents' house. I made the dumplings.
At the end of the month of Ramadan, a festival called Eid is held.
If I have another opportunity, I would like to tell you about Ramadan.
Calling out "Assalamu Alaikum"
What do you think about Halal food?
I would be happy if you could feel closer to Islam through our food culture.
Most people who wear hijabs (scarves worn by women in Islamic countries) are Muslim.
If you see them around town, try saying "Assalamu alaikum." They might respond with a smile, "Wa'alaikum salam."
Also, in convenience stores and restaurants, you may see tourists who cannot read Japanese and are concerned about whether the food they are buying contains pork. If you help them by checking the ingredients to make sure there is no meat, gelatin, etc., they will surely be happy.
I really hope that this will lead to some kind of international exchange that is close to home.