This paper investigates the challenges Islamic organizations face in Japan amid the increasing Muslim population through a case study of the Kumamoto Islamic Center (KIC). Through conducting interviews with four senior members of the KIC, this paper identifies the challenges it faces as a voluntary, independent, and multiethnic organization. The KIC draws on international students and long-term residents for its ‘organized’ membership and uses an Islamic decision-making approach called Shura to manage the activities of the organization. Despite the increase in the Muslim population, largely due to the arrival of ‘non-organized’ Muslims in the Technical Intern Training Program, there have been no significant changes in the KIC’s organizational structure or internal power balance. However, the growing Muslim population has impacted the KIC in several ways. For example, increased participation in religious festivals has strained the center’s capacity and resources as organizing such events has become more challenging due to the difficulty in managing increased traffic and complaints from the local community. Financial sustainability also remains a significant challenge for the KIC. The center’s reliance on donations has been problematic, something which was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such financial issues limit the ability of the KIC to expand its activities, including outreach ones aimed towards the local Japanese community. Additionally, social and immigration restrictions during the pandemic resulted in a reduction in the organization’s binding social capital. This paper shall finally discuss the ways in which the KIC is looking to overcome these challenges and sustain itself into the future.
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