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Home to an estimated 110,000 Muslims, about 10,000 are Japanese and are expected to increase in the coming years. The Muslims living in Japan come from diverse backgrounds—nationality, ethnicity, culture, lifestyle, clothing and etc. As such, people who have never met or interacted with a Muslim might have misconceptions and stereotypes about them.
In order to better understand Islam and Muslims, it is necessary to interact with them personally. We’ve compiled a list of things Muslim needs to keep in mind when planning to move abroad for work or starting work in Japan.
Learn the language
Bilingual professionals are in high demand in jobs in human resources, engineering, and sales, so if you speak Japanese and have technical skills, you have a good chance of landing a job in Japan. 122 million people speak Japanese as their native language, making it one of the most spoken foreign languages in the world.
Although many Japanese companies don’t require employees to be fluent in Japanese, your ability to understand two of the company’s primary languages (Japanese and English) will set you apart from other applicants and potentially make you eligible for more lucrative positions. You’ll need to speak Japanese pretty well, with Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 2 certification (N2) being a commonly-used benchmark.
Obtain appropriate visa and learn Japanese business customs
First things first, always obtain the appropriate visa for work-related purposes. The Japanese Highly Skilled Professional Visa, which is issued through a point-based system offer a longer period of stay and more benefits than a regular Work Visa.
When it comes to learning Japanese business customs, there is a long list of dos and don’ts when it comes to business etiquettes in Japan. These will help you polish your business professional persona and increase your chances in elevating your position in a work place. For instance, take off your coat before entering a building and bow until the elevator doors close completely in order to create a good and final impression when you leave your client. Do not bow and shake hands at the same time. Always keep in mind to exchange your business card with both hands, pinching the corners as you give them to your counterpart.
Identify a company with an understanding of Muslims
Faced with a labor shortage stemming from its aging population, Japan is increasingly looking toward foreign nationals to boost its workforce. And as so, more than half the Japanese working population consists of foreign nationals from around the worldwide.
Keep an eye out for companies hiring foreigners and has a system for accepting diversified societies already in place to avoid problems that may occur. During your interview, talk to the hiring manager, if possible and explain as much as possible. If you are rejected at that point and still get hired, it would be wise to avoid entering that company in order to minimize the issues that may take place.
Let them know and understand about you as a Muslim
Most people in Japan are very new to the concept and ideologies of Muslims, hence, it would be a great opportunity to educate and create awareness on how being a Muslim is while working in this destination. Talk to your manager, and see if you can take a few minutes to complete your prayers. Japan is on the way to becoming more Muslim-friendly and some companies have allocated prayer rooms.
Find people and communities to talk to
Most of Japanese is shy, especially to foreigners. So try talking them first! Converse and build relationships that you can rely on. Explain the culture you come from and the concepts you believe in. This is a great way to create a Muslim inclusive work environment as the more people are educated and aware of the ideologies, the more it will be accepted.
