The Halal Times
Global Halal, Islamic Finance News At Your Fingertips
Japan’s biggest food manufacturer has chosen Malaysia to be its hub for halal exports, in partnership with a Malaysian chicken major. Leading the joint-venture with Lay Hong, NH Foods is now constructing a factory in Selangor at an investment of US$10m. When complete in the first half of 2018, the plant will initially be capable …
KUALA LUMPUR: Japanese traditional confectionery company, Tokachiseika Co Ltd today inked an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) agreement with Dkay Ventures Sdn Bhd on the production of halal gyoza (dumpling) in Malaysia. Tokachiseika’s President Hiroyuki Komano said under the agreement, the halal gyoza would be produced by Dkay Ventures and is expected to be marketed in …
The world’s third-largest economy, Japan, continues foraying into the global Islamic finance sector in order to benefit from previously untapped opportunities in this rapidly growing industry. Earlier this month, Mizuho Bank, one of the largest financial services companies in Japan, through its Malaysian subsidiary became the next Japanese commercial bank to enter an Islamic finance …
TOKYO — Nippon Express is expanding transportation services that meet Islamic dietary rules, anticipating steady growth in demand in Japan and elsewhere in Asia. The logistics company has acquired halal certification for distribution centers in Tokyo and Fukuoka. It plans to use these centers in eastern and western Japan as highly efficient distribution points for …
KUALA LUMPUR – Mizuho Bank has become the second Japanese commercial bank to sign a “murabaha” credit facility agreement with Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, an arm of the multinational Islamic Development Bank group. Under the deal concluded in Kuala Lumpur with Mizuho Bank (Malaysia) Bhd. last week, the Saudi Arabian-based …
TOKYO —Japanese fastener maker YKK Corp has started providing halal meals at the cafeteria of a factory in central Japan, as an increasing number of Muslims are going to the factory for training. The company said it has set up a kitchen exclusively dedicated to halal food, which Muslims are permitted to consume under Islamic …
Tokyo: – The total number of foreign visitors surged by more than a quarter from January through July this year compared with the first half of 2015, the Japan Tourism Agency said Wednesday. Tourists from Malaysia, Indonesia and other Muslim countries also increased considerably. Numbers leaped an estimated 26.7 percent for the period, to 14.01 …
Tokyo:- While Japanese producers strive to tap the growing local and international halal food sector, some operating within the country worry that the proliferation of certification bodies is a potential problem. The lure is obvious – the Japan halal food market was estimated to be worth about US$200 million to £250m in 2015, says the …
Osaka:- A travel agency based in Osaka city is offering tours in Japan catering specifically to Muslim visitors – a growing segment of inbound travellers from abroad – featuring a visit to a mosque, halal food and an attendant adhering to Islam. Miyako International Tourist Co says its most popular route starts from Tokyo and …
With the growing number of Muslim tourists, South Korea has decided to encourage local restaurants to serve up halal food. It has introduced a new certification system, according to the country’s tourism organization. According to media reports, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) said that more than 200 halal eateries will be highlighted in a guide …
Tokyo:- With Japan determined to increase the number of foreign tourists to the country by 2020 when it hosts the Olympic Games, the government plans to maximize the use of cultural assets at 200 spots nationwide to spark visitors’ interest in Japanese history and culture, a draft of the government’s new plan shows. Under the …
Tokyo — Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ of Japan becomes the first-ever Japanese bank to start offering shariah-compliant loans through an overseas branch. Its branch in Dubai will issue a $200 million loan to a unit of Saudi Arabian national mining company Ma’aden. Since Islamic law forbids both the charging and payment of interest, the bank …
Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Japan, the third-largest foreign investor country in Indonesia, is showing interest in expanding their businesses in the food sector after seeing progressive developments of the Japanese society in Indonesia. “I have received reports that several Japanese food companies are contemplating entering Indonesia after observing the spurt in the number of Japanese …
Halal Wagyu Beef – At the Japan pavilion, 27 businesses and organizations displayed uniquely Japanese offerings such as matcha green tea powder and fermented foods. But visitors were mostly fascinated by a wagyu-tasting event. Wagyu is a type of Japanese beef with an intense marbling that pleases the eye and a high percentage of oleaginous unsaturated fat that is …
KUALA LUMPUR: With a share capital of about RM1.58bil, the highest among foreign banks operating in Malaysia, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp Malaysia Bhd (SMBC Malaysia) is in a comfortable position to provide bigger loans to Malaysian corporates as the bank strategises its business. President and chief executive officer Yoshimi Gunji said the bank would focus …
TOKYO —PBJ Inc is releasing a line of halal-certified skincare products, “Momo Hime,” approved by the Japan Islamic Trust, on March 3 in Japan and abroad. Having the 80 years of experience running a fruit and vegetable retailer, PBJ has for many years focused on the effects of the peach for health and beauty. “Momo …
International designers have finally started reaching out to Muslim audiences. After Dolce and Gabbana showcased their line of abayas, and DKNY, Mango released their “Ramadan collection,” the latest retail brand to join the bandwagon is Uniqlo. Offering a new line of clothing based on “modest fashion,” the Japanese clothing company is targeting Muslim women in …
I was speaking at a conference at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, which brings a three-year project to an end that was sponsored by Gurunavi Food Guide. The event was organized to help Japanese businesses understand Muslim consumers and expand their portfolio into the Halal food industry. Flashback to eight years or so: Halal branding …
AS THE Muslim travel market becomes a growing force worldwide, ASEAN countries are developing new strategic directions in a bid to wrestle a bigger piece of the lucrative halal tourism pie. This fast-growing sector is projected to grow to 150 million visitors comprising 11 percent of the global travel economy with an expenditure of US$200 …
Tokushima / Tokyo (Japan), Nov. 16: Farmers in Naruto city of Tokushima prefecture in Japan are cultivating sweet potatoes. Those potatoes grown on well-drained sandy soil near the sea are special bland called ‘Naruto Kintoki’. These are more sweet and expensive than normal sweet potatoes. Farmers are using the latest cultivation methods to not only …
Tokyo – Japan is fast becoming a Halal-friendly country. The government as well as the private sector are making conscious efforts to make the concept of Halal nearly a universal phenomenon. Public and private university cafeterias in many campuses are getting Halal certification to satisfy their growing population of Muslim students from many different countries. …
Dubai: – Mitsubishi UFJ Bank Japan has launched a new Islamic finance business, to be run out of its Dubai branch. The business will comprise a broad range of products including trade finance, deposit and loan equivalent services. “MUFG’s Islamic Window is ready for business for customers across Emea and its Islamic finance solutions will …
SAPPORO: Eager to attract more Muslim tourists, Japan’s Hokkaido Island wants to work with Malaysia’s Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) to make its capital Sapporo more “Muslim-friendly”. Nozomi Ota, who heads Sapporo’s Developing Local Cuisines in Observance with the Cultures of Muslim Tourists project, said the city had begun to make changes to accommodate Muslim …
Japan’s Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (BTMU) said it had obtained permission from the Dubai Financial Services Authority to operate a so-called Islamic window, underlining growing Japanese interest in sharia-compliant banking. Islamic windows allow conventional banks to conduct Islamic finance by segregating assets from conventional interest-bearing funds. Industry sources said it was the first time that …
