Japanese Diplomat Praises Indonesian Muslim Workers as Hardworking and Honest

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Embassy of Japan in Jakarta stated that Japanese society currently recognises that the Indonesian Muslim community in Japan is hardworking, honest, and kindhearted.

This statement was made by interim chargé d’affaires Myochin Mitsuru when asked about his views on the Indonesian Muslim community during an iftar gathering at the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta with Indonesian Islamic leaders on Monday.

He acknowledged that he was not yet well acquainted with the Indonesian Muslim community, either in Indonesia or Japan, having been posted to Jakarta only a few months prior.

In the past, most foreign workers in Japan came largely from Vietnam. However, Japanese statistics show that the number of Indonesian workers in Japan has increased rapidly. Currently, the number of Indonesian workers in Japan has reached 180,000 people.

“Actually, it is the number one increase in Japan,” he stated.

This demonstrates that Indonesian workers, the majority of whom are Muslim, have been well received in Japan.

Myochin noted that Japanese people, particularly in rural areas, regard Muslims, including Indonesian communities, as hardworking, honest, and kindhearted.

“So, that is why, as you can imagine, Japanese people, in rural areas, in very traditional areas, conservative areas, yet they accept so many Indonesians. That proves that Japanese people now do not hesitate to accept Muslims, of course, including people from Indonesia,” he said.

The iftar gathering at the residence of Japan’s Ambassador to Indonesia was attended by leaders from the Islamic organisations Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, as well as academics from Islamic universities including the International Islamic University of Indonesia (UIII), Paramadina University, and others.

The event was organised to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood between Japanese society and the Muslim community in Indonesia.