Japan is gearing up to host visitors for the 2020 Summer Olympics, and one company has caused excitement.
A sports and cultural events company has created a mosque on wheels that its head hopes will make Muslim visitors feel at home.
Yasuharu Inoue, the CEO of Yasu Project, said the possibility that there might not be enough mosques for Muslim visitors in 2020 is alarming for a country that considers itself part of the international community. His Mobile Mosques could travel to different Olympic venues as needed.
"As an open and hospitable country, we want to share the idea of omotenashi [Japanese hospitality] with Muslim people," he said in a recent interview.
The first Mobile Mosque was unveiled earlier this week outside Toyota Stadium, a soccer venue and the headquarters of the car company with the same name.
The back of the modified 25-ton truck flipped up to reveal an entrance and then the side slid out, according to AP, doubling the width of the truck. The 48-square-metre room can accommodate 50 people.
Muslim guests prayed inside the mosque, which includes outdoor taps and a washing area for pre-worship cleansing.
An estimated 100,000 to 200,000 Muslims live in Japan. Many Muslim non-residents are also expected to land in the country during the 2020 Summer Olympics.
AP
A staff member operates Mobile Mosque during an unveiling event in Toyota, western Japan.
© Radio Jambo 2024. All rights reserved