One of the first mosques (masjids) and the most phenomenal one in Japan is the
Kobe Mosque or
Kobe Masjid. Kobe Muslim Mosque was built in 1935, the first Mosque in Japan. Another source reveals that the Kobe mosque was built in 1928 on Nakayamate Dori, Chuo-ku. Kobe itself means the gate of God. There are two important events that have solidly stood the test of time until now: the atomic bomb by the alliance in 1945 and the
Kobe earthquake in 1995. Today, the mosque, which is located in the tourist Kitano area of Kobe, is one of the landmarks of Kobe city, Japan.
The first tragedy was the atomic bomb by the Allies in August 1945. After Japan's army bombed
Pearl Harbour, the alliance led by the U.S made a confrontation with Japan. The country of Japan itself is the main target of the Allied army instead of the colony of Japan in Asia, by dropping the atomic bomb on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Kobe, as a big city in Japan in that era, was also bombed by the alliance. On July 24, 1945, a
B-29 bomber craft dropped 4 '
pumpkin bombs' on Kobe city. This makes Kobe city flat with the ground surface, except for the Kobe Mosque.
The picture below shows the condition of the Kobe mosque after the atomic bomb. When the surrounding area of the mosque was destroyed, the Kobe mosque still exists. Subhanallah. This mosque was also used by the Japanese army to seek refuge in the basement of the mosque. The mosque was also used by the evacuees after the atomic bomb.
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| Kobe Mosque, after the atomic bombin 1945 |
After World War II, the governments of
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait gave funds to the mosque for renovation. The glass window was replaced with the new one, and the lighting of the mosque has been changed with a new lighting system from Germany. The room in the mosque was also equipped with new heating and ventilation air conditioning to make people in the mosque feel comfortable during prayer.
In 1995, the big earthquake, even the biggest earthquake in Japan after the
Kanto earthquake of 1923, hit Kobe city and the surrounding area, including
Hyogo-ken Nambu. In 20 seconds, the earthquake made 6.433 suffered and destroyed all area about 20 km from the center of the earthquake, mainly in Kobe city.
It happens again, the mosque still substantial exist after the earthquake. Subhanallah, those two events should make Japanese people think why this mosque still exists after those two disasters. However, direction from God is just for whoever He wants.
You can download Kitano Area, including the Kobe mosque, here, or refer to the access below to reach the Kobe mosque on your behalf. 
