Halal Ramen, Karaoke and Cosmetics!
Hi everyone! This month we have a Hari Raya Special sale. Be sure to check it out if you haven’t, and of course everyone will receive the discount!
And that led me to thinking, that we should learn and understand what Hari Raya is about.
Hari Raya Puasa is the end of the holy month of Ramadan, marking the end of one month of fasting for the muslims. Generally, Ramadan is a month to repent and purify oneself, to offer oneself to his or her god through acts of worship and compassion. Ramadan lasts from 6 June to 5 July this year, and the Hari Raya Puasa celebration is held on the 6, 7 July.
Of course, Hari Raya and Ramadan are not the only routines that muslims have. For example, Halal refers to what food is permitted by the Islam law to consume.
There are Islamic groups that do halal certification, which certifies whether things such as food and cosmetics are halal. Japan too has an organisation that does halal certification, and uses the mark below:
Recently, people from Asia and Europe, especially the muslims, have taken a strong interest in traveling to Japan. And yet, according to cresentrating.com research, Japan ranks only no. 27 as a muslim-friendly country in 2015.
(Muslim-friendly tourist destinations ranking/score rating)
From the studies, we can see that it can be difficult for Islamic devotees to enjoy traveling in Japan.
Indeed, when I was in secondary school year two (to think ten years has already passed ><), a Malaysian student came to stay with my family under a homestay program. However, she brought along her own cup noodles, and did not have a single taste of Japanese food. It wasn’t too good an experience. At that time I didn’t fully understand what being an Islam follower meant, and found out later that the abstinence from pork, alochol and rice wine used for cooking meant that there are only a few things that an Islamic follower can eat.
Fortunately, ten years later, Japan is working hard to make trips to Japan for muslims more and more enjoyable! And we will introduce some of it!
RAMEN
Near the Wonect office that are also a number of restaurants offering a halal menu. In fact, it also includes a ramen restaurant that is popular among travelers! While ramen is popular, there are many restaurants that use pork or beef as an ingredient, making it hard for some to enjoy eating without worries. However, the Halal Mentei Naritaya wants muslim travelers to enjoy their time in Kyoto, and created a 100% halal menu out of the Japanese ramen. Instead of basing it on pork, the soup is made out of chicken, bonito slices, and konbu (or kelp). Even their homemade “pork slices” are made out of chicken.
Halal certified by the Japan Islamic Trust.
The popular ramen noodles (below) and soba (above).
Also, if the customers wish to, they have also prepared a prayer room of which muslim travelers are welcomed to use, so that they will not miss their prayer routines.
Their main shop is in Asakusa in Tokyo, and provides the exact same menu.
For the big eaters who’d love to fill their stomaches, you can pay a little more to challenge the “Crazy Topping”! (^^)
https://www.facebook.com/gionnaritaya/
https://salaam-tradings.co.jp/
Kyoto Gion Outlet
Kyoto, Higashiyama, Rinkacho 424, Ability Gion 1F
Opening Hours 11:00-22:00
Tokyo Asakusa Outlet
Tokyo, Taito, Asakusa 2-7-13
Opening Hours 11:00-22:00(Mon〜Fri)、8:00-20:00(Weekends)
KARAOKE
Next, do you know there is halal-friendly karaoke place in Tokyo?
Karaoke is a part of Japanese culture, and also popular among visitors. The Manekineko Karaoke at Yotsuya, Tokyo has started Japan’s first Halal-oriented karaoke service. You can see that they are locally halal certified.
(Cats not included.)
The outlet serves 40 different items on the menus without using any pork or alcohol. The food is prepared in a specialty kitchen, even the trays used are special for these items.
There is prayer facility, so that travelers can set their mind at ease.
Manekineko Yotsuya Outlet
Tokyo Shinjuku Samon 3-1 Samon Irebun Building 2F
Opening Hours: 9:00-6:00am
FOOD AND COSMETICS
Halal-friend food and cosmetics are also on the rise. Last but not least, I would like to introduce three of these items.
1) Sweet-sakura tea
Roasted green tea, Sakura tea, Green tea, Red Tea
A new sensational flavour tea using the sakura that is in Japan, which bears a faint sakura fragrance, giving that luxurious feeling ♪ The sakura petals in the tea makes this perfect as a cute present or souvenir.
2) Momohime Skin Care Series
Products from Momohime are halal-certified. They do not consist any ingredient consisting of pig origins, mineral origins, petroleum origins, alcohol or colouring. Not only for muslims, any lady can use these products at ease.
That are three products available now: washing foam, face lotion, and gel cream.
3) Hello Kitty Gaufrette
Strawberry, Banana, Matcha
The ample fragrant cream sandwiched by the crispy gaufrette. The package bears the mark of halal certification from Malaysia’s JAKIM. The kimono wearing Hello Kitty is rather popular too.
Japan is still on its journey to become Halal-friendly. It hopes to attract more visitors to come to Japan, and provide them a satisfying trip. (Wonect is also aligned with this, to provide our customers with any sorts of products!) It’s been a long article, and thank you very much for reading till the end!
See you next week!
