Inspiring the Students of SMART Ekselensia, Sensei Sugimoto: Let’s Spread the Message Abroad and Have the Courage to See Indonesia from the Outside

29 June 2026, 09:53

Group of young men and women standing in a semicircle outdoors, listening to a man in a cap who seems to be teaching.

BOGOR —— There was a unique moment when Sensei Sugimoto visited the Kampung Djampang Silat Training Hall in the Dompet Dhuafa Madina Zone integrated complex in Bogor on Friday (26 June 2026). The strong sense of martial arts values there immediately reminded him of traditional Japanese culture.

“It’s extraordinary; even silat has become a means of da’wah here. This silat is like a dojo in Japan,” he recalled with a smile.

The atmosphere grew even warmer as he stepped into the SMART Ekselensia Indonesia School. The pupils welcomed him with a spectacular performance by Trashic, an ethnic music group whose instruments are all made from recycled waste materials. This creativity earned the appreciation of the Dai from the Land of the Rising Sun.

People greet each other at the entrance of a building, with onlookers and a few waving hello; a student with a blue backpack sits in the foreground.

People gather in a courtyard under flowering greenery; a man kneels to fill a container while others stand nearby near a henna trellis and a blue staircase in the background.

Equally surprising was that one of the SMART students communicated directly in fluent Japanese when Sensei Sugimoto visited the SMART Ekselensia library. There, Sensei Sugimoto and his wife also delivered an inspiring message that fired up the students’ spirits. He urged Indonesia’s younger generation to dare to step out into the world, view their homeland from a global perspective, and spread the message of Islam abroad.

“Study diligently and with enthusiasm so that, one day, you may see Indonesia from the outside; that way, when you return, you will know exactly what you can contribute to this nation. And do not forget, Japan also needs the influence of great young people like you,” said Sensei Sugimoto encouragingly.

Group of students and a faculty member posing in a campus courtyard with a modern glass-front building in the background.

Man with a microphone leading a group in a library; shelves of books on the left and a tree mural on the back wall.

Sensei Sugimoto’s Da’wah tour of Indonesia is not merely an ordinary visit. It is a major mission to promote the importance of preserving and fostering Islamic values within a minority community. For the younger generation of Muslims in Japan, upholding their faith amidst the whirlwind of modernity is a “silent struggle”.

To address the need for a space for da’wah and the guidance of new converts there, Dompet Dhuafa, through its branch and in collaboration with partners in Japan, is currently working to establish the Al-Muttaqin Mosque in Chiba, Japan. This mosque will not only serve as a place of worship but also as a Centre for New Converts and Islamic Culture.

Woman in a beige hijab hands a certificate to a smiling woman in a plaid shirt while a man in a dark cap watches, inside a library.

Two men wearing traditional caps converse in a bright library-like space, one holding a book while others stand nearby with bookshelves in the background.

Let’s play our part in establishing a house of Allah in Japan. Click ‘Build a Permanent Mosque for Muslims in Chiba, Japan’ now. Be part of establishing a mosque for Japanese Muslims! (Dompet Dhuafa)

Text and photos: Dhika

Editor: Dedi Fadlil