The origin of Japan’s long history about reverence for nature started with native religion. No one is quite sure how long religion has been practiced in Japan. The natives’ belief system was based on and in the worship of kami. Kami are the elements of the landscape or forces of nature (“Kami”). In the 6th century Shintoism was created to distinguish native religion from Buddhism and Confucianism (“Shintoism”). Shinto most literally means, “the way of kami” (Hirai). Shintoism became more popular and common in the 18th century (“Shintoism”). Japan’s transition from 18th century to now started in 1871. The Meiji government started by abolishing feudalism and replacing daimyos with prefects which watched over regions of Japan ("Industrialization
