This is a general survey on the historical and modern presence of Freemasonry in countries located in Asia (including Armenia and Turkey).
Armenia
The Grand Lodge of Armenia is a national organization, supervising Freemasonry in Armenia. It was consecrated in 2002 by representatives of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, the Grande Loge Nationale Française and the Grand Lodge of Russia.
The Grand Lodge of Armenia is recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England and is located in Yerevan.
China
Freemasonry in China is allowed but recommended against participating in by the Chinese Communist Party.
Taiwan
The Grand Lodge of China is located on the island of Taiwan, and was founded in 1949. It has 11 lodges with 750 members and is recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England.
India
Freemasonry was introduced to India in the 1730s by the English. The fraternity remained under the jurisdiction of the United Grand Lodge of England through the colonial era. An independent Grand Lodge of India was founded in 1961. As of February 2011, it has 370 lodges spread across India with more than 14,900 members and is recognised by UGLE.
The Confederation of United Grand Lodges of India was founded in 2001 and is recognised by the Grand Lodge of Belgium.
Iran
The first Persian contact with freemasonry dates back to the 19th century during the Qajar period.
The Grand Lodge of Iran, established in 1969 in Tehran, existed in the country prior to the Islamic Revolution of 1979, hosted membership from various political figures, including former prime minister Jafar Sharif-Emami (who served as the lodge's grand master at one point), and branched to 43 Lodges and at least 1,035 members. Since the Revolution, Freemasonry has been banned in Iran; a "Grand Lodge of Iran in Exile" is currently established in Los Angeles, where the local Grand Lodge approved its practice in 1985.
Israel
The Grand Lodge of the State of Israel was founded in 1953, it has 53 active lodges with 1400 members and is recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England.
Le Droit Humain also has an Israeli jurisdiction founded in 1989.
Japan
Freemasonry in Japan first began with the opening of trade with foreign countries occasioned by Commodore Perry's Black Ships in 1866. Prior to World War II, several Grand Lodges had subordinate Lodges there, including those of England, Ireland, and Scotland. Most went dark as the war loomed. After World War II, the Grand Lodge of the Philippines charted new Lodges throughout the country.
General MacArthur, commander of US forces occupying Japan, a mason himself, supported the creation of several Lodges.
The Grand Lodge of Japan was founded in 1957, it has 18 lodges with 2500 members and is recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England.
Le Droit Humain has a lodge in Tokyo, the lodge "Soleil Levant" founded in 2008 and working at the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in French.