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Kobe Mosque

Coordinates: 34°41′46″N 135°11′16″E / 34.69611°N 135.18778°E / 34.69611; 135.18778
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Kobe Mosque
神戸モスク
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusMosque
StatusActive
Location
Location2-25-14 Nakayamate Dori, Chuo-ku, Kōbe-shi, Hyōgo Prefecture
Kobe Mosque is located in Hyōgo Prefecture
Kobe Mosque
Shown within Hyōgo Prefecture
Map
Interactive map of Kobe Mosque
Coordinates34°41′46″N 135°11′16″E / 34.69611°N 135.18778°E / 34.69611; 135.18778
Architecture
ArchitectJan Josef Švagr
StyleIndo-Islamic
Completed1935
Minaret2

The Kōbe Mosque (Japanese: 神戸モスク, romanized: Kōbe Mosuku), also known as the Kōbe Muslim Mosque (Japanese: 神戸ムスリムモスク, romanized: Kōbe Musurimu Mosuku, is a mosque located in Kōbe, in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan. Founded in October 1935, it is Japan's first mosque.[1][2] Its construction was funded by donations collected by the Islamic Committee of Kōbe from 1928.[a] The mosque was confiscated by the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1943, survived airaids in 1945, and withstood the Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995.[4] It is located in the Kitano-cho foreign district of Kobe, one of the city's best-known tourist areas which features many old western style buildings.[5]

The mosque was built in traditional Indo-Islamic style by the Czech architect Jan Josef Švagr (1885–1969), the architect of a number of Western religious buildings throughout Japan.

As of 2024, it was one of 113 mosques in Japan.[6]

History

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The Kobe Mosque's construction, initiated by the Islamic Committee of Kobe in 1928, overcame financial and logistical hurdles. However, it was confiscated by the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1943 during World War II but survived the 1945 air raids largely unscathed.[7] The mosque was damaged during the Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995 but did not completely collapse.[8] Due to its endurance, it has also been called the "Miracle Mosque."[9]

Architecture

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Constructed in 1935 by the Takenaka Corporation,[10] the mosque has a reinforced concrete structure. Its architectural style is a fusion of traditional Asian-Turkish influences[11] and was designed by architect Jan Josef Švagr.[11]

Located at 2 Nakayamate Douri, Chuo-Ku, the mosque spans three levels above ground and one underground level.[12] Its roofing comprises a combination of flat roofs and domes with wooden structures and copper roofing. The walls are finished with exposed-aggregate.[13]

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  • An aerial view of the mosque in 1936, showcasing its early architectural grandeur and historical significance
    An aerial view of the mosque in 1936, showcasing its early architectural grandeur and historical significance
  • The prayer hall
    The prayer hall

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Aga Khan III was a major contributor. He facilitated a meeting between the then East Pakistan Prime Minister and the Emperor of Japan to discuss the building of a mosque in Japan. The Emperor offered land for the mosque's construction.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Penn, M (2006). "Islam in Japan". Harvard Asia Quarterly. 10 (1) (Winter ed.). Archived from the original on February 2, 2007. Retrieved February 26, 2007.
  2. ^ Ajar, Seno Budhi (October 13, 2023). "The Impact of Historic Mosque Tourism Development on the Conservation of Historical Mosque Buildings in Japan and Indonesia". Migration Letters. 20 (7): 952–968. doi:10.59670/ml.v20i7.4612 (inactive July 12, 2025). ISSN 1741-8992.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
  3. ^ "History". Kobe Mosque Official Website. Archived from the original on January 20, 2007. Retrieved February 26, 2007.[self-published source?]
  4. ^ Gunardi, Yudhi; Barliana, M. Syaom (June 29, 2021). "Disaster Response Mosque: A Mosque as a Center for the Rescue of the Ummah". Journal of Development and Integrated Engineering. 1 (1): 43–54. doi:10.17509/jodie.v1i1.35853. ISSN 2798-2165.
  5. ^ "Japan's first mosque in Kobe". ABNA English. November 16, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  6. ^ "Japan home to a growing Muslim presence as it embraces change". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. ^ "Retro Japan: Mosque in Kobe serves as spiritual center, symbol of multicultural coexistence". Mainichi Daily News. March 29, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  8. ^ Kotani, Hitomu; Okai, Hirofumi; Tamura, Mari (December 1, 2023). "Activities and roles of mosques in Japan after the recent major earthquakes: A comprehensive study". Progress in Disaster Science. 20 100297. Bibcode:2023PrDS...2000297K. doi:10.1016/j.pdisas.2023.100297. hdl:2433/285721. ISSN 2590-0617.
  9. ^ Alfarra, Jehan Alfarra (November 28, 2020). "Discover Kobe Mosque, Japan".
  10. ^ "Islam in Japan: First Muslims and first mosque". AMUST. April 24, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Acri, Andrea; Ghani, Kashshaf; Jha, Murari K.; Mukherjee, Sraman (October 23, 2019). Imagining Asia(s): Networks, Actors, Sites. ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. ISBN 978-981-4818-86-5.
  12. ^ "Kobe Mosque welcomes Ramadan: Embracing diversity in the month of reflection". Arab News Japan. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  13. ^ "Al Fozan". mosqpedia.org. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
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