A Laissez-Faire Approach of Muslim NGOs as Minorities in Shaping the Halal Industry & Islamic Banking Law in Japan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15408/ajis.v25i2.46880Keywords:
Arbitration agreement, Arbitration award, Sharia principles, Uncertainty; InterestAbstract
This article examines and proves the laissez-faire approach taken in the context of Muslim Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in shaping the development of Japan's halal industry and Islamic banking. Preliminary data support the idea behind this research. Despite representing minority groups in Japan, Muslim NGOs have adopted a non-interventionist approach, empowering market forces and community-driven initiatives to drive the growth of halal products and services. Through their advocacy and collaborative efforts, these organizations have navigated the Japanese legal landscape to promote halal certification, halal food production, and Islamic finance, aligning these sectors with global market trends and local cultural dynamics. Using field research supported by document analysis and interviews, it was found that a laissez-faire model characterized by minimal state intervention in the work of Muslim NGOs in public and private sector involvement in the halal economy and Islamic banking emerges despite the challenges they faced in a non-Muslim-majority country. By tracing the historical context of these developments and analyzing key case studies, this paper offers insights into the intersection of religion, economics, and legal reform in Japan. These findings contribute to a broader discourse regarding the influence of minorities in niche markets, with implications for the future of Islamic finance and the halal industry in both non-Western and non-Muslim contexts.
Abstrak
Artikel ini mengkaji peran unik Lembaga Swadaya Masyarakat (LSM) Muslim di Jepang dalam mengembangkan industri halal dan perbankan Islam. Meskipun sebagai kelompok minoritas, LSM Muslim ini menggunakan pendekatan "laissez-faire" (non-intervensionis). Mereka mengandalkan kekuatan pasar dan inisiatif komunitas untuk mendorong pertumbuhan layanan dan produk halal. Melalui advokasi dan kolaborasi, mereka berhasil menavigasi peraturan hukum Jepang untuk mempromosikan sertifikasi halal, makanan halal, dan keuangan Islam, menyesuaikan diri dengan tren global dan budaya lokal. Penelitian (berdasarkan wawancara dan analisis dokumen) menunjukkan bahwa model laissez-faire ini—ditandai dengan intervensi negara yang minimal—berhasil diterapkan LSM, meskipun menghadapi tantangan di negara mayoritas non-Muslim. Temuan ini memberikan wawasan tentang persimpangan agama, ekonomi, dan hukum di Jepang, serta berkontribusi pada pemahaman tentang pengaruh kelompok minoritas dalam mengembangkan pasar khusus, seperti industri halal dan keuangan Islam dalam konteks non-Muslim dan non-Barat.
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