A social welfare equipment manufacturer in Okayama has developed a ready-made wooden unit for use as a prayer space, following a personal experience of an employee who faced a Muslim friend’s difficulties in finding suitable prayer space during a trip.
The product was developed by OM Kiki Co., a company specializing in assistive and wellness equipment, headquartered in Soja, Okayama Prefecture.
The idea was born when an employee of the company traveled through Okayama with a friend from Malaysia and saw his difficulties in finding a clean and private space for prayer. This experience became the starting point for a product that was then launched on the market in December.
The “Prayer Space” is an independent wooden structure, 180 centimeters high, with a base of 150 x 150 centimeters. The floor is equipped with a waterproof and easy-to-clean coating, suitable for the ritual cleansing of hands, feet, face and hair that Muslims perform before each prayer.
A qibla direction marker is mounted on the ceiling, which can be rotated to orient towards Mecca, eliminating the need for a compass or app.
Muslim travelers perform prayers at specific times during the day, so access to a clean and private space is considered a practical necessity, not just a preference.
A survey of 107 Muslims who had visited Japan showed that 72% of men and 79% of women said that the availability of prayer spaces directly influences their choice of travel destination.
The head of the “Prayer Space” project said that the goal is to expand these opportunities in more countries. “I hope to increase the number of places where people can pray as usual, making it easier for them to travel and create a more convenient environment for work in various regions, starting with Okayama,” he said. /islamgjakova

Source: prizrenpost