■ Introduction: The Struggle Behind Daily Curry

“Why am I eating Indian curry every single day…?”

This simple question, asked by a Muslim woman from Indonesia shortly after arriving in Japan in 2015, eventually evolved into a social media platform with over 13,000 followers and led to her appointment as an official PR ambassador for Saitama Prefecture.

This article explores the food-related challenges faced by Muslims in Japan, the information-sharing initiatives developed to overcome them, and the broader possibilities for a truly multicultural society.

■ Food Challenges Faced by Muslims in Japan

Islamic teachings prohibit the consumption of certain foods, including pork and alcohol. Additionally, meat must be processed according to Islamic law—a standard known as “halal.”

While Japan is renowned worldwide for its rich culinary culture, halal-friendly restaurants remain limited. Particularly in 2015, even in major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, finding places where Muslims could dine with confidence was no easy task.

In the early days after arriving in Japan, daily visits to Indian curry restaurants—where halal compliance was guaranteed—became routine. However, Japan offers a diverse array of cuisine: sushi, tempura, eel, yakiniku (grilled meat), and hamburgers. All of these can be enjoyed, provided they are halal-certified.

■ The Beginning of Information Sharing: For Those with Similar Struggles

“People often assume that because I wear a hijab, I can only eat certain foods. But if it’s halal, I can enjoy a wide variety of Japanese dishes.”

She wanted more people to know this fact. She wanted fellow foreigners living in Japan and tourists visiting the country to enjoy Japan more fully. With this mission in mind, she began searching for Muslim-friendly restaurants and sharing information in English and Indonesian on Instagram.

Her posts went beyond basic restaurant information—they included detailed menu descriptions, halal compliance confirmation, and personal taste reviews. This authentic, experience-based content resonated with many foreign residents and prospective visitors, steadily growing her follower base.

■ Activities as Saitama Prefecture’s PR Ambassador

With her follower count exceeding 13,000, she was appointed as a PR ambassador for Saitama Prefecture, actively promoting local tourist attractions and specialty products.

Upon taking on this role, she realized, “There was so much I didn’t know.” Despite living in Saitama for over ten years, she had not fully explored the region’s tourism resources and local charms.

Another realization was the existence of a “language barrier.” No matter how wonderful a tourist destination may be, if information is only available in Japanese, it will not reach foreign visitors. Currently, most foreign tourists concentrate in Tokyo and Osaka, with few venturing to Saitama.

■ Economic Impact of Foreign Tourists

“It’s important for foreign tourists to spend money in Japan—that’s a vital economic activity. I want all kinds of people to visit and fall in love with Saitama.”

This statement reflects a strong commitment to regional economic revitalization. Annual spending by inbound tourists continues to rise, generating ripple effects across tourism, retail, food service, and transportation industries.

For local governments, especially in an era of declining population, attracting foreign tourists is a critical strategy. However, having tourism resources alone is insufficient. A comprehensive reception framework is essential, including multilingual information dissemination, accommodation for diverse dietary cultures (halal, vegetarian, etc.), and religious facilities (such as prayer rooms).

■ Residence Status and Visa Applications: Ensuring Peace of Mind for Foreigners in Japan

As immigration lawyers (gyoseishoshi), we support foreigners in living, working, and doing business in Japan with peace of mind by assisting with visa applications and residence status acquisition.

Residence statuses include work visas (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Skilled Labor, etc.), status-based visas (Spouse, Permanent Resident, etc.), Student visas, and Business Manager visas. Applications require a wide range of documents, such as employment contracts, business plans, financial statements, and academic certificates—a significant burden for non-native Japanese speakers.

Moreover, recent years have seen stricter scrutiny of residence status applications. Without specialized knowledge and experience, the risk of rejection has increased.

■ Key Points for Employing Foreigners in Companies

For business owners and HR managers employing foreign workers, obtaining the appropriate residence status is critically important.

To obtain a work visa, the following requirements must be met:

  1. Educational qualifications: University degree or equivalent work experience
  2. Job description: Specialized duties corresponding to the residence status
  3. Salary level: Compensation equal to or higher than that of Japanese employees
  4. Company stability: Evidence of sustainable business operations

Failure to meet these requirements may result in application denial. Additionally, continuous support is required post-employment, including residence period renewal procedures and residence status change applications when changing jobs.

■ Toward a Multicultural Society

What began as food-related information sharing has evolved into a role that communicates regional charms to the world. This case demonstrates the importance of foreigners themselves serving as “bridges.”

Foreigners can discover perspectives and needs invisible to Japanese nationals. Moreover, such information is more accessible and trusted within the same cultural sphere.

Realizing a multicultural society requires three essential elements:

  1. Improved information accessibility: Multilingual communication and cultural consideration
  2. Legal support infrastructure: Specialized assistance with visa applications and residence status acquisition
  3. Community reception systems: Comprehensive support in education, healthcare, housing, and daily life

■ The Role of Immigration Lawyers (Gyoseishoshi)

As immigration lawyers, we resolve legal challenges faced by foreigners in Japan and support the creation of an environment where they can live with peace of mind.

・Work visas, spouse visas, permanent residence applications
・Residence period renewal and residence status change
・Naturalization applications
・Corporate foreign employment consulting
・Disclosure requests for denial reasons and re-application support

Beyond mere document preparation, we carefully interview each client, select the optimal residence status, prepare necessary documents, and develop comprehensive application strategies.

■ Conclusion: A Future of Coexistence Starting from Food

What began as a simple question—”Why am I eating Indian curry every single day?”—has grown into an initiative contributing to regional economic revitalization and the realization of a multicultural society.

The number of foreigners living in Japan continues to increase. For them to live, work, and enjoy Japanese culture with confidence, support is needed in all areas: food, language, law, and community.

As specialists in visa applications and residence status acquisition, we are committed to serving as a bridge between foreign residents and Japanese society.

If you are a foreigner facing challenges with residence status or visa applications, or a company considering employing foreign workers, please feel free to contact us. Together, let’s build a future of multicultural coexistence.

Article URL: https://digital.asahi.com/articles/ASV6Z3VJ0V6ZUTNB00XM.html

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