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A survey on Japanese university students’ awareness of halal food and international affairs – comparison between 2015 and 2020
Get PDFPurpose – This study aims to clarify changes in the understanding of halal foods and international affairs in Japan from 2015 to 2020. Based on the results of this survey, the authors will extract variables for promoting awareness of halal foods in the future.
Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted an Internet (Google) survey on tourism and halalrelated initiatives implemented between 2012 and 2025. A field survey was conducted using self-administered questionnaires targeting university students in the Faculty of Pharmacy in 2015 (452 respondents) and 2020 (510 respondents). The comparison of results between 2015 and 2020 was performed using the chi-square test (IBM SPSS ver. 27.0).
Findings – Between 2012 and 2025, the Japanese Government implemented 24 measures. The halal-related measures were aimed at service providers, companies and government agencies rather than the general public. According to a questionnaire survey, around 90% of respondents were aware of Muslim dietary restrictions, but only around 30% of students were aware of the term “halal.” Awareness of prohibitions such as pork and alcohol increased over the five-year period, but awareness of details such as halal logos and slaughter methods remained low. Awareness of Japan’s tourism policies and its position in the international community was also low, with no progress made over the five-year period. Respondents desired neutral institutions or countries as sources of information on Islam and halal.
Research limitations/implications – As this survey was conducted in 2015 and 2020, it does not accurately reflect the current situation following the subsiding of the Coronavirus pandemic. The number of foreign visitors to Japan for employment or tourism purposes is currently increasing. Consequently, a new survey is required to reflect the situation in 2025. Furthermore, the survey should not be limited to pharmacy students, but should be expanded to include respondents from other departments. To clarify the level of awareness of halal food among Japanese people, ongoing surveys are necessary.
Practical implications – This study reveals the current level of awareness of halal among Japanese people. As the number of foreign tourists and workers is expected to increase, continued surveys are important to support the development of the halal-related industry. The results indicate that Japanese people prefer receiving information from private third-party organizations, which would be a positive step for future outreach. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the government should also play a role in providing information to the general public.
Social implications – Between 2015 and 2020, it became clear that the awareness of halal and halal foods among Japanese people had not significantly improved. It was also revealed that young people in Japan lacked a sufficient understanding of their country’s tourism policies and the global distribution of the world’s population. As communication networks continue to develop and globalization progresses, greater attention must be paid to domestic and international circumstances. The Japanese Government also needs to provide the general public with information. The fact that these issues have been clearly identified is a significant social achievement.
Originality/value – This paper provides valuable and rare insights by comparing the perception of halal in Japan in 2015 and 2020. There have been few studies addressing how Japanese people perceive halal. This study reveals that the information provided by the Japanese Government to the general public is limited. As the number of foreign residents in Japan continues to increase, ongoing research is essential to avoid cultural misunderstandings. The findings of this study will contribute to a deeper understanding of multicultural coexistence in Japan
