One of the first mosque (masjid) and the most phenomenal one in Japan is 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 remain mosque solidly stand till now; the atomic bomb by the alliance in 1945 and the Kobe earthquake in 1995. Today, the mosque which is located in the tourism Kitano area of Kobe is one of the landmarks of Kobe city, Japan.
The first tragedy was the atomic bomb by the alliance in August 1945. After Japan's army bombed Pearl Harbour, directly the alliance lead by the U.S makes confrontation with Japan. The country of Japan itself is the main target of the alliance army instead of the colony of Japan in Asia. By dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Kobe, as the big city in Japan in that era, was also bombed by the alliance. July 24 in 1945, a B29 bomber craft dropped 4 'pumpkin bombs' to Kobe city. This makes Kobe city flat with the ground surface, except the Kobe Mosque.
The picture below shown the condition of Kobe mosque after the atomic bomb. When the surrounding area of the mosque was destroyed, the Kobe mosque is still sturdy exist. 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 evacuee after the atomic bomb.
 |
| Kobe Mosque, after atomic bom 1945 |
After world war II, the government 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 heat 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, hits 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 with those two disasters. However, direction from God, just for whoever He wants.
You can download Kitano Area including Kobe mosque
here, or refer to access below to reach Kobe mosque on your behalf.
Access
While I went to Kobe mosque as a tour program with my Indonesian Community in Mie prefecture, you can reach Kobe mosque in some ways.
Kobe Mosque: ２-２５-１４ Nakayamatedori Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture 650-0004 078-231-6060
Gallery
 |
| Kobe Mosque, street view |
 |
| Library of Kobe mosque |
 |
| The corridor of Kobe mosque |
 |
| Imam place, Kobe mosque |
 |
| Indonesian community visiting Kobe mosque |
 |
| The lighting system in main room |
 |
| A friend prays in Kobe mosque |
 |
| Halal shop near Kobe mosque |
