Islamophobia in Japan: Possibilities and Controversies

Abstract

The impact of socio-political developments on a global scale has led to an increased effectiveness of the counter-theological perspective on religions and cultures in print and broadcast media, especially since the early modern period. Even in regions where there has been no significant historical or religious interaction, the influence and imprint of different religious traditions on a particular religion can be discerned. In this context, theological or religious negative approaches to Islam in Japan can be evaluated within the framework of an influence that emerged in the West with modernity and has its roots in Christian religious traditions. Conversely, an examination of the historical development of Islam in Japan reveals that the country's multicultural and religiously pluralistic structure precludes the possibility of any religious group being perceived negatively on a collective level. However, it is important to acknowledge that the process of Western-style modernisation has occasionally led to negative cultural perceptions of other religions within Western societies. Considering the historical development of Islam in Japan, the country's multicultural and religiously pluralistic structure renders the collective portrayal of any religion as negative implausible. Consequently, the potential for Islamophobia in Japan today and the grounds for the discussions around it continue in this context.

Keywords

• History of Religions
• Japan
• Islam
• Japanese Islam
• Islamophobia

Japonya’da İslamofobi: İmkân ve Tartışmalar

Öz

Dünyada sosyo-siyasî gelişmelerin etkisiyle, erken modern dönemde başlayan yazılı ve görsel yayınların, dinlere ve kültürlere yönelik karşı-teolojik bakış açısının etkinliğinde bir artış gözlemlenmektedir. Tarihî ve dinî olarak ciddi bir etkileşimin bulunmadığı bölgelerde dahi belirli bir dine yönelik farklı dinî geleneklerin bakış açılarının etki ve izleri görülebilmektedir. Bu bağlamda, Japonya’da İslâm’a yönelik teolojik veya dinî nitelikteki negatif yaklaşımlar, Batı’da modern dönemle birlikte ortaya çıkan ve kökleri Hristiyan dinî geleneklerine dayanan bir etki çerçevesinde değerlendirilebilir. Öte yandan İslâm’ın Japonya’daki dinî tarihi dikkate alındığında, ülkenin çok kültürlü ve dinî çoğulcu yapısı, herhangi bir dinin varlığının kolektif anlamda olumsuz bir imaja sahip olmasını mümkün kılmamaktadır. Bununla birlikte tarihi süreçte Batı tipi modernleşme, beraberinde Batı kültürünün diğer dinlere yönelik olumsuz-kültürel bakışını da beraberinde getirmiştir. Ancak İslâm, toplumsal dinî zeminde faaliyet alanı bulmuş ve Japon toplumu açısından farklı-olumlu dinî bir değer olarak görülmüştür. Günümüzde Japonya’da İslamofobi’nin imkânı ve etrafındaki tartışmaların zemininin bu bağlamda sürdüğü söylenebilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Dinler Tarihi
• Japonya
• İslâm
• Japon İslâmı
• İslamofobi

Kaynakça

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