Japan's Shinto Shrines In Crisis

Japan’s Shinto Shrines in Crisis Shintoism is the most practiced indigenous religion in Japan as it is a label for a variety of ideas and practice. This religion is centered around honoring the kami, spirits in nature from which the Japanese people are said to have descended from. There are about 80,000 Shinto shrines in Japan. These shrines are often dedicated to and house kami gods, such as the Ise Grand Shrine, a complex of over a hundred shrines dedicated to the Goddess of the Sun, Kami Amaterasu. However, these places of worship lack enough financial support amidst controversy over government involvement in religion. It is estimated that 41% of Japan’s Shinto shrines are disappearing along with the rural communities that support them. First, it is important to examine the religious significance of preserving these shrines. It was the …show more content…
Despite constitutional restrictions following the “State Shinto” period and then World War Two, Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has been pushing Shintoism to “play a more prominent role in Japanese society.” Abe has been promotion Shintoism by taking guest to the Ise Shrine and hosting press conferences there. He also took part in a rebuilding ceremony held there every twenty years that highlights the concept of impermanence in Shintoism. Though these shrines are of great religious and historic significance, such as the Ise Grand Shrine which is around 2000 year old, the Japanese government involvement walks a fine line. Abe’s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, “which honors Japan’s war dead, including World War II leaders convicted as Class A war criminals,” sparked controversy. In addition, Christians in Japan reacted with criticism by saying that Abe “violated a constitutional ban on the government favoring any particular religion.” This presents a challenge to preserving the historic