I'm so glad that your talk went well. I am very excited now to listen to the video and to read your book when it comes out. I'm so fascinated in these topics so I am very grateful for your willingness to share your wisdom. Thank you.
Really enjoyed watching this. I love the idea of Shinto, Buddhism and Shugendo sharing a bath-house in Spirited Away!
A question for you, if I may. You were saying that the claim of 'mushukyo' in Japan, when people are asked about their religion, is partly about Japan having a long-standing syncretic tradition (less tied up with identity and a single tradition than in many parts of the West). I think so too, and I agree with the idea that in Japan it's often more about what you 'do' than what you 'believe'.
At the same time, do you think that people's ideas about the reality of kami and buddhas have changed since the late nineteenth century or perhaps since WWII - a steady process of secularization? Or is it more complicated/interesting than that?
Great question. There are many reasons why the vast majority of Japanese people claim to be areligious. I think one of the biggest is because of the word "shukyo" (religion) itself. The word was only coined in the late 19th century, when Westerners began arriving in large numbers. It was invented to refer to organized Western religions, which inevitably meant Christianity. It still retains this association, today. So when you corner a Japanese and ask if they have a "shukyo," many will think you mean "do you believe in God-with-a-capital G?" And for most in Japan, the answer to that is "no."
Adding to this, the word "shukyo" has been overlaid with newer associations, including cults and politics. The former because of the 1995 sarin gas attack, and latter involving the murder of Prime Minister Abe in 2022. I wrote this in some detail for The New Yorker when it happened:
As for the second question, I'm not sure what you mean by “the reality of kami and buddas,” but I agree, things have changed greatly since WWII, when compulsory "state Shinto" and the Emperor as a Kami-with capital-K were enforced. War's end restored religious freedoms, a return to the order where kami, buddahs, and really any other spiritual beings are free to reside side by side. Japan isn't a place where people are normally interrogated about the depths of their faith, but people do express theirs in real life, so maybe the word “reality” has some of the same issues as “shukyo” does.
Thank you for your reply! The sectarian associations with 'shukyo' are strong, aren't they (and perhaps a bit unfortunate). Thank you for the link to your New Yorker piece. I'll take a look.
On the second question, I was thinking about the trend in parts of the West for religious ideas and beings to be treated more in a metaphorical way rather than literally (in other words, they are 'real' in the sense of being psychologically real and important for people, rather than having independent existence).
I was wondering whether you see a similar trend in Japan - or perhaps literal vs metaphorical doesn't really apply when it comes to Shinto (which would be very interesting!).
I don't think it's productive to compare with Western religions, because Shinto doesn't have a scripture, and it isn't organized in the Western religious sense. Kami have always been seen as avatars of nature, and there are no standardized descriptions or depictions of them. A Shinto priest once described them to me as a space in your heart for finding gratitude in all sorts of ways large and small. This is why Shinto (way of kami) isn't a -kyo like Bukkyo (Buddhism), or Kiristokyo (Christianity). It isn't an -ism but a way, a lifestyle, our culture.
jiu jitsu (柔術) is a martial art (it's actually pronounced jūjutsu in Japanese, with a long u). What I'm talking here is jujutsu (呪術), with a short u, which is a different thing. It's hard to distinguish in English but not at all in Japanese. I sympathize with non-Japanese speakers confusing the two!
I'm so glad that your talk went well. I am very excited now to listen to the video and to read your book when it comes out. I'm so fascinated in these topics so I am very grateful for your willingness to share your wisdom. Thank you.
Well done, Hiroko!🤩
Really enjoyed watching this. I love the idea of Shinto, Buddhism and Shugendo sharing a bath-house in Spirited Away!
A question for you, if I may. You were saying that the claim of 'mushukyo' in Japan, when people are asked about their religion, is partly about Japan having a long-standing syncretic tradition (less tied up with identity and a single tradition than in many parts of the West). I think so too, and I agree with the idea that in Japan it's often more about what you 'do' than what you 'believe'.
At the same time, do you think that people's ideas about the reality of kami and buddhas have changed since the late nineteenth century or perhaps since WWII - a steady process of secularization? Or is it more complicated/interesting than that?
Great question. There are many reasons why the vast majority of Japanese people claim to be areligious. I think one of the biggest is because of the word "shukyo" (religion) itself. The word was only coined in the late 19th century, when Westerners began arriving in large numbers. It was invented to refer to organized Western religions, which inevitably meant Christianity. It still retains this association, today. So when you corner a Japanese and ask if they have a "shukyo," many will think you mean "do you believe in God-with-a-capital G?" And for most in Japan, the answer to that is "no."
Adding to this, the word "shukyo" has been overlaid with newer associations, including cults and politics. The former because of the 1995 sarin gas attack, and latter involving the murder of Prime Minister Abe in 2022. I wrote this in some detail for The New Yorker when it happened:
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/shinzo-abes-assassin-and-japans-complicated-spirituality
As for the second question, I'm not sure what you mean by “the reality of kami and buddas,” but I agree, things have changed greatly since WWII, when compulsory "state Shinto" and the Emperor as a Kami-with capital-K were enforced. War's end restored religious freedoms, a return to the order where kami, buddahs, and really any other spiritual beings are free to reside side by side. Japan isn't a place where people are normally interrogated about the depths of their faith, but people do express theirs in real life, so maybe the word “reality” has some of the same issues as “shukyo” does.
Thank you for your reply! The sectarian associations with 'shukyo' are strong, aren't they (and perhaps a bit unfortunate). Thank you for the link to your New Yorker piece. I'll take a look.
On the second question, I was thinking about the trend in parts of the West for religious ideas and beings to be treated more in a metaphorical way rather than literally (in other words, they are 'real' in the sense of being psychologically real and important for people, rather than having independent existence).
I was wondering whether you see a similar trend in Japan - or perhaps literal vs metaphorical doesn't really apply when it comes to Shinto (which would be very interesting!).
I don't think it's productive to compare with Western religions, because Shinto doesn't have a scripture, and it isn't organized in the Western religious sense. Kami have always been seen as avatars of nature, and there are no standardized descriptions or depictions of them. A Shinto priest once described them to me as a space in your heart for finding gratitude in all sorts of ways large and small. This is why Shinto (way of kami) isn't a -kyo like Bukkyo (Buddhism), or Kiristokyo (Christianity). It isn't an -ism but a way, a lifestyle, our culture.
Thanks Hiroko! 'Way' vs 'teaching' is a really helpful distinction here, isn't it. Much appreciated.
Following your discussion and loved that description of Shinto as a place in your heart for all kinds of gratitude…
This is so fascinating! Thank you for sharing and looking forward to more!
So very glad to hear that the talk was well attended! Looking forward to catching the recording on YT…
That's fantastic that your talk went well. I'm looking forward to your book! Well done!
jiu jitsu?
jiu jitsu (柔術) is a martial art (it's actually pronounced jūjutsu in Japanese, with a long u). What I'm talking here is jujutsu (呪術), with a short u, which is a different thing. It's hard to distinguish in English but not at all in Japanese. I sympathize with non-Japanese speakers confusing the two!
ahh okay thanks!
ahhh okay! what's it mean??