Institutional Contexts and the Formation of Muslim Communities in Postwar Japan

The presence of Muslim communities in Japan is often framed as a product of recent globalization. This paper challenges that view, situating Islamic communal life within longer historical and institutional processes. Drawing on the historical research of Muslim migration and theoretical insights from migration studies and institutional development, it examines how Muslims navigate Japan’s postwar dual labor markets and regulated immigration regimes. Migration decisions, embedded in transnational networks linking sending and host societies, are shaped by structural factors rather than individual economic incentives alone. Over time, these processes foster the gradual emergence of mosques, religious networks, and community organizations that sustain Islamic life in a society where Muslims remain a small minority. By situating Muslim migration in historical and institutional context, this paper contributes to broader discussions on the development of Islamic diasporas and the roles of institutions in shaping religious life beyond Muslim-majority regions.