The Influence of Shintoism on Contemporary Japanese Culture (By Jack McGuane)

In modern Japan, many different religions are practiced daily. While there are Japanese people who practice Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam, the most prominent religions in Japan are Buddhism and Shintoism. As of 2021, Japan, with its population of 125.7 million, was 46.4% Buddhist and 48.6% Shinto.

Shintoism was introduced to Japan in the 6th century CE. It became a popular religion because it set apart indigenous Japanese religious beliefs from Buddhist beliefs. Shintoism is a challenging religion to grasp because it is not affiliated with a founder, sacred texts, or indisputable dogmas. The word “shinto” carries great divinity with it, however, as it translates to “way of the gods” (Japanese Shintoists believe that their ancestors’ spirits are gods) in Japanese. For that reason, Shintoism focuses on stereotypically divine concepts: purity, harmony, familial respect, the prioritization of others before oneself, and respect for the divine creation of nature.

While Shintoism is a religion, it is also oftentimes regarded, more generally, as the traditional Japanese culture. Despite Shintoism's limited structure and vague definition (in comparison to other widely-practiced religions), it has prospered in Japan for more than 1,500 years. Despite the rapid modernization of Japan in the last one and a half millenniums, Shintoism has remained relevant and continues to preserve Japanese tradition and cultural identity nationwide today.

Although Shintoism was Japan's designated religion and is not anymore, Shinto holidays are still celebrated by many in Japan. According to The Way of Shinto Through Modern Japan by Helena Konráðsdóttir, Amaterasu (the sun goddess in Shintoism) is celebrated twice (July 17 and December 21) in the calendar year. Konráðsdóttir also points out that Shintoism is present in many aspects of modern Japanese pop culture. The video games Okami and Persona 4 feature characters based on Japanese/Shinto mythological figures. Additionally, in the popular installment in The Legend of Zelda series, Breath of the Wild, players can give fruits to idol statues to discover “korok,” who are little wooden beings. Offering fruits is a typical practice in Japan, and Konráðsdóttir argues that the “korok” were designed with regard to a spirit deriving from Okinawan legends. Konráðsdóttir states that Japanese movies by the director Hayao Miyazaki carry Shinto aspects as well. When asked about Shintoism in his movies, Miyazaki responded that he didn’t believe in the religion, but “the ideological origin of Shinto is deeply rooted within him.”

Shintoism stretches beyond pop culture in modern Japanese culture as well, in food, music, and art. According to an article from Tauhuichiban, “the Japanese emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients reflects the Shinto belief in the importance of living in harmony with nature.” Another article from an Ohio State University student describes kannushis (Shinto priests) from a Shinto temple in Tokyo playing Gagaku, a genre of music affiliated with Japanese tradition and Shintoism. The music was played for the student by multiple kannushis with hand-crafted instruments, embodying the Shinto values of harmony and respect for nature (in that the instruments were not made in a factory). Furthermore, an article from Canvas Prints Australia states, “The profound respect for nature, a cornerstone of Shintoism, is often reflected in the detailed and vibrant depictions of natural landscapes in modern Japanese art.”

Clearly, Shintoism is represented everywhere in modern Japan, and thus it plays a vital role in Japanese nationalism. Even for the non-Shinto Japanese, Shintoism is still a part of their life because, as Konráðsdóttir wrote, “these manifestations are not limited to conscious observances since many Japanese may not necessarily practice Shinto as a religion today but are also expressed almost unconsciously through daily routines and rituals.” From a religious standpoint, Shintoism is practiced by about half of Japan, with shrines embedded within the chaotic metropolises of the nation. From a national perspective, however, Shintoism is a pillar without which Japanese culture and tradition, both ancient and modern, wouldn’t stand.