English transcript

The Japanese Muslim community is at a very early stage, a stage that is similar to how

when my father came to America in the early 60s, there was a very diverse group of primarily

students and people that came from overseas and they were establishing the Islamic centers,

establishing the Islamic school, and their children were being born and raised being

multicultural for the very first time.

I'm, for example, a product of that first generation that is born and raised fully authentically

within the American culture, but also very familiar with my parents' subculture.

It happened with us 50 years ago, but in your case it is happening right now.

So my main message and advice to the Muslims of Japan was to benefit from what has happened

already in Europe and America, and to take the good, and to take from the good that we

have done, and also to make sure that they're careful they don't fall into our mistakes,

and I encourage them that it is an exciting time to be here.

The future might have some challenges, but they are establishing the foundation of Islam

in Japan.