NEEDS ANALYSIS OF HALAL MATCHMAKING FOR MUSLIM MARRIAGE IN JAPAN

Today, halal matchmaking services, such as halal apps and halal speed dating have appeared in many Muslim and non-Muslim countries. It is important that Muslims not only marry in a halal manner, but also maintain a healthy family life after marriage. However, in Japan, where Muslims are almost invisible minority, there are no services that provide halal matchmaking including pre-marriage education based on Maqasid al-Shariah. The purpose of the research is to analyze the need for halal matchmaking services in Japan. Halal matchmaking needs of single and divorced Muslims are to be determined. Methods: The researcher recruited potential participants for a halal matchmaking through social media of Chiba Islamic Cultural Center from 25 July to 21 August 2022. Single and divorced Muslims living in Japan who were able to communicate adequately in Japanese, were purposively selected for in-depth interviews. Feedback was obtained through in-depth interviews with all the participants after the halal matchmaking. Findings: 111 people registered their personal profiles. There were 109 valid answers (98.1%). Forty-one people responded for the preliminary interviews. Twenty people who attended the matchmaking were invited for the feedback in-depth interviews. Barriers to find a potential marriage partner among Muslims in Japan include a rarity of Muslims as a user of the Japanese matchmaking services, time and money consuming efforts and anxiety for marriage due to the lack of trust or assurance of individualistic marriage compared to that of communal marriages. Thus, community effort to develop halal matchmaking is needed for the Muslims in Japan.