Japanese Beliefs
A brief overview of Japanese beliefs and worship.
Shinto
The indigenous faith of Japan is Shinto, which formed as a blend of its ancient spiritual beliefs. It does not follow a single sacred text or religious leader. Instead, Shinto is a standardized ritual practice that allows for the worship of many spirits and deities. These divine beings, or kami, are manifestations of the natural world and the forces that move it. They may be recognized in plants, animals, natural events, and the spirits of the deceased. By their nature, most kami are worshipped on a regional level or by specific families. Certain deities, however, like the sun goddess Amaterasu, are widely revered. The Imperial Yamato dynasty is said to be directly descended from Amaterasu.
There are currently about 100,000 Shinto shrines across Japan. Kami may be worshipped at one or many shrines, or at specific landmarks. Torii gates mark the entrances of shrines and other sacred areas. Shrines can be visited for personal prayer, public festivals, and private events like the birthday of a small child.
Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism reached Japan from Baekje Korea around the 6th century CE. At the time, Shinto was not a unified faith but a collection of local practices. Buddhism soon found acceptance in the imperial court and would become the dominant philosophy of medieval Japan. Zen Buddhism, a Chinese variant incorporating aspects of Taoism, proved especially popular. Zen schools teach self-fulfillment through meditation, introspection, and practice over dogma. It influenced the warrior philosophy of the samurai, who prized the mental discipline it offered.
Buddhism and Shinto grew alongside each other. Their temples and shrines often shared space, and many worshippers practiced elements of both. This balance shifted during the Meiji Restoration, when the imperial dynasty formalized Shinto as a state religion with the emperor at its heart. Buddhism entered a period of decline and marginalization in Japan. It has since recovered post-World War II. Some of the most popular schools followed today are Pure Land, Nichiren, and Shingon Buddhism.
Christianity and Other Religions in Japan
The Meiji Restoration overturned many policies of the Edo Period, which had sought to limit the influence of foreigners and Christian missionaries in particular. Soon after Europeans made initial contact with Japan in the 16th century, missionaries followed in search of converts. Their early successes were seen as a threat to the stability of Japan. In 1597, Shogun Hideyoshi Toyotomi ordered the crucifixion of 26 Catholics, who were later known as the 26 martyrs.
Christianity remained a small underground faction in Japan until the Meiji Restoration, when the right to its practice was granted once more. There are now Christians of many denominations in Japan, though their overall number is still low. Later immigration also brought followers of faiths such as Islam, Judaism, and Hinduism.
Modern Worship in Japan
Following World War II, the United States moved to separate the imperial dynasty of Japan from Shinto. Today, Japan is a primarily secular nation, though both Shinto and Buddhism continue to play a major role in society. Japanese individuals may practice meditation and Shinto rituals without considering themselves religious. The current religious makeup of the country is estimated as follows:
Shintoism: 70.4%
Buddhism: 69.8%
Christianity: 1.5%
Other: 6.9%
References
Andreasen, Esben. Popular Buddhism in Japan: Buddhist Religion & Culture. Routledge. 2014.
Breen, John and Mark Teeuwen. A New History of Shinto. John Wiley & Sons. 2011.
Brown, Delmer, Ed. The Cambridge History of Japan. 4 vols. Cambridge University Press. 1988.
Henshall, Kenneth. Springer. A History of Japan: From Stone Age to Superpower. 2012.
Perez, Louis G. The History of Japan. Greenwood Publishing. 1998.
Smith, Robert. Japanese Society: Tradition, Self, and the Social Order. CUP Archive. 1985.
“The World Factbook: Japan.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 17 Oct. 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html.
Walker, Brett L. A Concise History of Japan. Cambridge University Press. 2015.
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