KUALA LUMPUR - Issues surrounding the burial of Muslims in Japan are increasing amid a steady rise in the country’s Muslim population.

According to Japanese local media reports, the number of Muslims living in Japan has been growing year by year.

While cremation followed by interment of ashes is the standard practice in Japan, Islamic tradition generally requires burial in the ground, and many Muslims express a preference for earth burial.

As the number of foreign residents reaches record highs, cultural and religious differences have, in some cases, led to friction with local communities.

A report titled Muslim Population in Japan 2025, compiled using data collected by Hirofumi Tanada, professor emeritus at Waseda University, estimates that Muslims in Japan numbered approximately 420,000 as of the end of 2024, representing about 0.3% of the total population. Nearly 90% are believed to be foreign nationals.

Japan records roughly 1.6 million deaths annually. 

Based on a simple projection assuming the Muslim population ages at a rate similar to that of Japanese society, local media estimate that about 5,400 Muslims could die each year in the future.

Meanwhile, Japan’s cremation rate exceeds 99%. Although the Cemetery and Burial Act does not explicitly prohibit earth burial, local ordinances and administrative discretion in many municipalities effectively make it difficult to secure land for Muslim cemeteries.

In some cases, plans by local Muslim associations to build dedicated burial sites have stalled following opposition from nearby residents.

Against the backdrop of labor shortages, Japan has been expanding its acceptance of foreign workers through residence statuses such as the Technical Intern Training Program and the Specified Skilled Worker visa. 

Many workers are arriving from countries with large Muslim populations, including Indonesia, and are supporting various industries.

The number of mosques in Japan has also increased significantly, rising from 15 in 1999 to 113 in 2021.

Experts and stakeholders say that a deeper understanding of religious and cultural differences will be essential as Japan continues to navigate coexistence in an increasingly diverse society.