Nine students of SEIREI high school came to visit the mosque, so 9 Muslim high school and junior high school students sat with the visitors. The following lines describe the situation (of that meeting).
Date and Time: 20th of June (Sat.) between 2:10 and 4:00 PM.
Place: second floor of Masjid Nagoya (moved to 3rd floor after Asser prayer).
Visitors: 3 males and 6 females.
In the first half (of the meeting), the mosque was as usual a starting point to introduce Islam. Talking went from outlines of “what is Islam” up to details of extremity, showing the Muslim students how to exert efforts to clear up the misunderstanding that Japanese tend to have (about Islam).
In the second half, which was assigned for questions and answers, the Muslim students used their own words to answer the following questions (from visitors):
・What do you do about prayer at school?
・How do you do when you (want to) some candy or sweet?
・Besides pork is their any other food you can not eat?
・What do you do when you would like to enter the swimming pool?
・Is there some limitation about clothes?
・Do you read fashion magazines?
・How to tie the Hijab?
It was a very significant chance in which Muslims and non Muslims of the same generation were able to exchange (ideas and culture).
The following are the impressions of the Muslims students (about that meeting):
・It was cheerful as everybody was friendlier than I thought. It was good that the atmosphere of the place was encouraging to talk. (3rd grade junior high school female student).
・I was surprised that they actively asked questions although I thought they were not interested in Islam. It was a very goo experience even for me. (1st grade high school female student).
・I was surprised by the contents of the questions. (1st grade high school female student).
・At the beginning I was worried (of the meeting) because of the tension that they were elder than me, but it was actually very friendly. It was good that they knew about us. If there are other similar chances I definitely want to attend again. (3rd grade junior high school female student).
・They were well-mannered students. It was good that they understood us very well. (3rd grade high school male student)
・As it was a Christian school I thought there will be something different, but it was unexpectedly usual. (1st grade high school male student).
・I was glad they understood the real Islam. I hope they will tell those who still have the misunderstanding. (2nd grade junior high school male student).
・I wanted to learn more (about Islam) after I could hear things I didn’t know myself. The students of SEIREI high school were very well-mannered and it was good I could enjoy talking to them. I thought if I had such knowledge about religions it will be easier to be understood when asked about Islam. If there are other similar chances I want to attend again. (1st grade high school female student).
