MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA — Muhammadiyah recently hosted Japan Islamic Trust (JIT) from Tokyo, indicating a potential collaboration between the two organizations. The JIT delegation, led by Secretary General Harun Quraisyi and Mrs. Satomi Ogata, received a warm welcome from Chairman of Muhammadiyah Anwar Abbas and Vice Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Council for Elementary and Secondary Education, and Non-formal Education Alpha Amirrachman.
JIT expressed a keen interest in contributing a plot of land in Tokyo to facilitate the establishment of an Islamic school by Muhammadiyah.
“JIT is currently exploring collaboration, and a key element involves the potential donation of land in Tokyo for the establishment of a Muhammadiyah school,” said Alpha on Tuesday (November 21).
JIT Secretary General Harun Quraisyi stressed the crucial need for more Islamic schools in Japan. Research indicates that 90 percent of Muslim children attending schools in the country encounter challenges in preserving their religious identity.
With merely six Islamic-based schools in Japan, the urgency underlying JIT’s interest in collaborating with Muhammadiyah becomes apparent. Harun duly recognized Muhammadiyah’s esteemed global reputation for effectively spearheading educational initiatives abroad, as exemplified by the success of Muhammadiyah Australia College (MAC) in Australia.
“I’ve heard about Muhammadiyah’s impactful commitment to Islamic education in Indonesia. Today, I reach out to Muhammadiyah, seeking support to launch an Islamic school in Japan,” said Harun.
Conveying a sense of optimism, Harun proposed that the successful establishment of an Islamic school could catalyze the development of an Islamic university in Japan.
“We are eagerly looking forward to collaborating with Muhammadiyah, underlining that Japan offers a favorable environment for the dissemination of Islamic teachings,” said Harun.
Providing context, Japan Islamic Trust, established on February 17, 1994, is a nonprofit organization registered as a religious-based branch of the Japan Islamic Cultural Center since 1997. JIT has also pioneered the establishment of a mosque in Otsuka, Japan. The potential collaboration between JIT and Muhammadiyah represents a pivotal stride in enhancing Islamic education in Japan.
