Japan Muslim Association (JMA)
Japan Muslim Association (JMA) is a halal certification body in Japan that holds recognition from JAKIM, Malaysia's Department of Islamic Development and the most influential authority in the global halal industry.
Source: JAKIM's official recognition list, gazetted under the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011, as at 30 January 2026.
| Country | Japan |
|---|---|
| Address | 3-17-23 Higashigotanda Shinagawa-ku Tokyo 141-0022 Japan |
| Contact person | Mr. Yusuf Yoshihide Kashihara (President) |
| Telephone | +813 6277 3561 |
| Fax | +813 6277 3597 |
| info@shariah-inst.com, jma_info@muslim.or.jp, jmahalaloffice@muslim.or.jp | |
| Recognition | JAKIM (gazetted, as at 30 January 2026) |
| Established | 1952 |
| Certifies | products intended for export markets |
| Also recognised by | MUIS (Islamic Religious Council of Singapore) |
| Website | muslim.or.jp |
Dual recognition: JMA is also listed on MUIS Singapore's Recognised Foreign Halal Certification Bodies list, valid to 2029-02-02.
About JMA
The Japan Muslim Association (JMA) is the oldest Muslim organization in Japan. It traces its origins to 1952, when a group of Japanese Muslims formed a fellowship society, and it adopted its present name in 1953, the year the association itself gives as its establishment date. In June 1968 it was registered as a religious corporation under Japanese law. The association is based in Higashi-Gotanda in the Shinagawa ward of Tokyo.
Halal certification is one activity within a wider religious mission. The association describes its purpose as helping Muslims in Japan practice Islamic teachings while cooperating with Japanese society, and its work spans Islamic education and lectures, monthly gatherings, conversion support, funeral services and cemetery operations, and a Muslim friendly business member program. Its certification work targets products intended for export overseas, guided by a published halal certification policy that lists prohibited categories and requires halal identity to be maintained across production, sanitation, and warehousing and logistics.
In 2024 the association received the King Faisal Prize in the Service to Islam category in recognition of its role in the development of Islam in Japan. The association’s website is published mainly in Japanese, with some bilingual navigation, and detailed certification procedures and fees are handled through direct inquiry rather than published documentation.
Frequently asked questions
Is JMA recognised by JAKIM?
Yes. Japan Muslim Association (JMA) appears on JAKIM's official recognition list of international halal certification bodies, gazetted under Malaysia's Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011, as at 30 January 2026.
What does JAKIM recognition mean for JMA?
JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) is widely regarded as the industry's most influential halal authority. Its recognition means halal certificates issued by JMA are accepted for products entering Malaysia, and it serves as a strong third-party credibility signal in the global halal trade.
Where is JMA based?
Japan Muslim Association (JMA) is based in Japan at 3-17-23 Higashigotanda Shinagawa-ku Tokyo 141-0022 Japan.
Is JMA recognised outside Malaysia?
Yes. Besides JAKIM, Japan Muslim Association (JMA) appears on MUIS Singapore's Recognised Foreign Halal Certification Bodies list (valid to 2029-02-02), so its halal certificates are also accepted for the Singapore market. Recognition by two national authorities is a strong dual-market credibility signal for exporters.
What does the Japan Muslim Association do besides halal certification?
The association runs a broad religious and community program, including Islamic education and lectures, monthly gatherings and prayer services, support for people entering Islam, funeral services and cemetery operations, and a Muslim friendly business member scheme for companies in Japan.
Has the Japan Muslim Association received any international awards?
Yes. The association received the 2024 King Faisal Prize in the Service to Islam category, which cited its long record in the development of Islam in Japan since its establishment in the early 1950s.
How does the JMA halal certification policy define halal integrity?
The published policy lists items forbidden in Islam, including alcohol, blood, carnivorous animals excluding fish, carrion, animals not slaughtered in the name of Allah, and pork and its derivatives, and requires that halal identity be maintained from start to finish across production, sanitation, and warehousing and logistics.
Related halal certification bodies
- NPO Japan Halal Association (JHA) · Japan
- Japan Islamic Trust (JIT) · Japan
- Muslim Professional Japan Association (MPJA) · Japan
- Nippon Asia Halal Association (NAHA) · Japan