Vice President Jusuf Kalla Performs Tarawih Prayers in Tokyo

The architecture of Masjid Jami’ Meguro in Tokyo is similar to Blue Mosque in Turkey.

Tokyo, 10 Ramadan 1438/5 June 2017 (MINA) – Indonesian Vice President M Jusuf Kalla performed the Tarawih prayers or nonobligatory evening prayers during the fasting month of Ramadhan in the Meguro mosque here on Sunday.

The vice president and his wife Mufidah Jusuf Kalla along with their entourage joined the prayers in the newly inaugurated Meguro mosque located in the Indonesias school complex.

The Indonesian ambassador to Japan, Arifin Tasrif inaugurated the Meguro mosque on May 26, 2017.

The Indonesian citizens who performed the Tarawih prayers coming from various locations in Japan.

The Meguro is the first mosque which was built by the Indonesian Muslim community living in Japan.

The vice president and his entourage arrived in Haneda International Airport on Sunday morning for the 23rd International Conference on the Future of Asia, to be held from June 5 to 6.

Kalla and his wife Mufidah Jusuf Kalla were greeted by Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Arifin Tasrif, Defense Attache Colonel Ian Fuady, and Ambassador Kojiro Shiojiri, special assistant to the Japanese Foreign Minister and former Japanese ambassador to Indonesia.

His entourage comprises among others former Indonesian ambassador to Japan Muhammad Lutfi, Head of the Vice Presidential Secretariat Mohammad Oemar, his special staff in charge of economic and financial affairs Wijayanto, and chairman of his Expert Team, Sofyan Wanandi.

Kalla, along with other ASEAN leaders, including Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, and Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, will address the conference organized by the Japanese media group Nikkei.

In addition, ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh, former Singapore prime minister Goh Chok Tong, and former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir bin Mohammad will also attend the conference.

The conferences theme is “Globalism At A Crossroads – Asia’s Next Move.”

Honorary guest of a reception by Nikkei

During his stay, Kalla is also scheduled to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and attend a reception held by Nikkei.

As an honorary guest, the Indonesian vice president will deliver an opening address to the reception.

Prior to the conference, Kalla is scheduled to hold an internal meeting with Rachmat Gobel, chairman of the Gobel Panasonic Group, Indonesian former trade minister and concurrently head of the Indonesia-Japan Friendship Association (PPIJ).

Indonesia and Japan will commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2018. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)