F

oreign ambassadors in Indonesia use the fasting month as an opportunity to enhance relations with Muslim figures in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.

Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Masafumi Ishii hosted an iftar (breaking of-the-fast meal) gathering with Indonesian Muslim figures in Jakarta last Tuesday to deepen the friendship between Indonesia and Japan.

Several prominent Muslim leaders from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, the country’s largest and second largest Muslim organizations, respectively, rectors of Islamic universities in Jakarta and leaders of pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) attended the event.

“I think Indonesia and Japan’s strategic partnership is based on mutual understanding. And in order to gain it, you need to understand the culture. I think Islamic leadership can play a lot of roles for promoting the direction between the two countries, which is already good. We can make it even better,” said Ishii.

Meanwhile, Azyumardi Azra, an advisor for the Center for Islamic and Society Studies at Islamic State University (PPIM UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, said the event was a way for the Japanese Embassy to engage with Islamic leaders.

“I think this is very important. Japan has always respected Indonesia, because they do have business and security interests in our country. With the complexity of Indonesian society, Japan needs to have a good relationship not only at the government level, but at the society level as well, or through people-to-people relations,” Azyumardi said.

As part of efforts to foster people-to-people diplomacy with Indonesia, the Japanese government since 2004 has held an annual exchange program for leaders and teachers of pesantren.

Initiated by the PPIM UIN in cooperation with the Japanese Embassy, more than 150 Indonesian pesantren leaders and teachers have been invited to Japan.

Ishii told the guests he was determined to continue the program as it had increased mutual understanding between the two countries.

When asked about the possibility of sending Japanese religious leaders to Indonesia for a similar exchange program, he said, “I think that’s possible, because those Islamic leaders have established contact with Japanese religious leaders.”

Deputy secretary-general of the NU’s Central Executive Board (PBNU) Imam Pituduh welcomed the idea and expressed interest in holding the same program in Indonesia.

“We can introduce our Indonesian values and halal products to them. We need more halal food to be served in Japan,” Imam said.

At a separate event the following Wednesday, United States Ambassador to Indonesia Joseph R. Donovan Jr. hosted around a hundred students from the Al-Maun Muhammadiyah Islamic boarding school in Bogor, West Java, to promote awareness of Islam in the US.

With more than 3 million Muslims residing in the US, Donovan underscored the importance of the Muslim community’s contributions to the greater US society.

“Just like in Indonesia, Muslims in the US come together for the breaking of the fast — the US has different religious communities, and Muslims there have a way of contributing to the greater American society,” Donovan told the Muslim students ahead of iftar at his ambassadorial residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Meanwhile, outgoing press attaché at the US Embassy, John Johnson, said that the US mission hosts events during Ramadhan as a way to show its concern for marginalized communities, while remaining in touch with the spirit of Ramadhan.
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Muhammad Bilhaqi IB is an intern at The Jakarta Post.