Research on Japanese Womenʼs ʻConversionʼ to Islam

On the Analysis of the Conversion Motifs and Personal Backgrounds

Abstract

While conversion to Islam has been a topic of public and academic attention in Western countries where Muslim communities have developed since the 1990s, little research has examined conversion to Islam in Japan. This paper analyses conversion motifs and the influence of personal background on conversion and conversion motifs based on the interview data from 19 Japanese female Muslim converts. The results revealed four different conversion motifs in this sample: intelligent, mystical, relational and convenient. It also showed that personal backgrounds, such as crisis, family religion and study abroad, influenced the conversion to Islam and conversion motifs. Further research is needed to clarify conversion motives and processes through case studies and comparisons, including perspectives such as conviviality and gender.