Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Many people from diverse backgrounds gathered at Tokyo’s Otsuka Mosque to prepare Iftar for hundreds of Japanese people who have been impacted by economic difficulties.

Within hours Biryani, a chicken and rice dish, was packed into containers ready for distribution in Ikebukuro park.

Around 5:40 p.m., volunteers started to hand out the packed meals to the long queue of  people seeking food and within just 30 minutes, the packed meals had been distributed.

Saer Farouk, who oversees the distribution, takes the time to speak to some of the homeless people present while handing them a meal.

According to a Keio architecture student who has helped distribute food several times, many Japanese people have been looking for food aid since the COVID crisis.

The imam of the mosque told Arab News Japan that more than 500 meals were distributed, which confirms an increase in Japanese people who are now facing economic difficulties.

“In this month of Ramadan, Muslims must show their charitable spirit towards the most deprived. Fasting accentuates this spirit of empathy.”