Businessman Mohamed Mohideen has called Osaka home for the past 39 years. He relocated from Sri Lanka in 1987, drawn by promising employment opportunities during Japan’s economic boom.
Over the years, he built a career dealing in gemstones before transitioning into international trade, exporting used vehicles to markets in South Asia including his native Sri Lanka and neighboring Pakistan.
Mohideen recalls arriving in an era when foreign residents were relatively scarce, and cultural integration was less complex.
However, he observes a marked shift in public sentiment. Local attitudes, he notes, have grown increasingly hostile, with Muslims facing both online harassment and in-person abuse.
“Social media is flooded with messages telling us to leave Japan or return to our countries,” Mohideen said. “Some individuals have even visited the mosque to shout insults.”
A regular attendee at the Osaka mosque for daily prayers and community service, Mohideen maintains that he has never felt physically threatened.
Despite maintaining cordial relationships with neighbors over the years, he acknowledges a recent deterioration in communal harmony.
“Now, I feel that people are afraid of us.”
The frequency and intensity of verbal attacks have escalated, with members of his faith community being labeled as terrorists, accused of manufacturing explosives, and subjected to xenophobic slurs.
“When incidents like these occur, our only recourse is patience. They seek confrontation, hoping to provoke a reaction,” Mohideen explained. “Therefore, we remain composed, respond with kindness, and strive to educate others about Islam, as many Japanese have limited exposure to our faith.”
Still, he recognizes a mutual responsibility in bridging the divide. “For too long, we concentrated solely on our livelihoods and failed to actively engage with society or share our story,” he reflected. “Moving forward, I am committed to fostering dialogue and deepening mutual understanding between communities.”
