I have been asked sometimes in Germany what my religion is, what religion Japanese is.
Every time, my answer was not so clear because I don’t have proper information about the religion of Japan even though I am Japanese.
Personally, I don’t mind about religion and I have never talked about Japanese religion with my friends in Japan.
To talk about religion is not really common for Japanese people.
When I was a child, I was not sure about differences between shrines and temples.
I asked my mom and googled about religion in Japan.
The majority of people in Japan are not monotheism.
1.Shinto
Shinto means god road.
I heard that a lot of kind and a lot of God like 8 million exist in Japan.
Actually, I am not sure which god I pray for and it is right to do but normally I think about my ancestors, grandmother, grandfather and brother when I am in Shrine.
Japanese people usually visit a shrine in the beginning of a year which is common to visit on 1st to 3rd January (Sanganichi) in Japan.
I was used to visit the nearest shrine to my parents house with my grandmother every in the end of year around 23:30 to the new year at 0:30 or so.
We throw a coin into Saisenbako which is a big box with whole and we wish in the shrine.
After that, in the shrine case, you get Sake (rice alcohol) and Mochi (rice cake) from guys who are in charge of the year.
And we say “A happy new year” to each other.
There are Oden which is Japanese soup with a big piece of radish, Hanpei which is Japanese fried fish cake, eggs and so on.
Oden can make your body warm so it is good for being outside in the cold.
Snack bags and oranges are also prepared to take away.
There is a big campfire there so it is not so cold near the fire.
I like the atmosphere in the shrine in the end of year and the beginning of the year in Japan.
You don’t have to go to a shrine on 1st to 3rd January when you can’t.
It might depend on a family but at least, my family would not blame me for not going.
You can go to a shrine any time when you are able to.
In my case, I imagine that Shinto = in shrine, Shrine = new year’s celebration place.
It is traditional and popular to have a wedding ceremony in a shrine in Japan.
At home, there is Kamidana which means god shelf.
Kamidana should be placed to the south or east in the direction of the sun.
My parents house has Kamidana facing south direction and it is placed a bit high.
Kamidana has Ofuda which is an envelope written in Japanese.
Ofuda should be changed to a new one every new year and the old Ofuda should be returned to the shrine that you got it at.
2.Buddhism
Many Japanese hold funerals in Buddhism way.
Obousan who can read Okyou which is for praying with Japanese comes from a temple.
There is Butsudan which is a big gorgeous shelf.
My parent’s Butsudan has a box contains a bone of ancestor’s Adam’s apple.
Japanese people offer flowers and small rice balls on Butsudan.
When I visit my parents, I first go to Butsudan.
I sit in front of Butsudan and put my hands together while closing my eyes and saying hello in my mind to my ancestors.
And I place souvenirs on the Butsudan.
Butsudan is like a grave inside of a house.
On 13th to 15th August in Japan, it is Obon which is a celebration day for welcoming ancestors.
We visit our grave and offer flowers, cleaning and place candles and Senko which is burned incense.
You don’t have to go to the grave during Obon when you can’t.
It might depend on a family but at least, my family would not blame me for not going.
You can go before or after Obon or any time when you are able to.
For me, Buddhism is to think of my ancestors.
I found out that the majority of Japanese people are kind of both of Shinto and Buddhism mixed.
Some Japanese people might be thinking that they are atheist even they visit a shrine or a temple.
But I think it is no problem.
Many Japanese people are not sure about their religion so often because Japanese people naturally respect and mix nice parts of any religion.
Japanese people enjoy Christmas party, Halloween even if they are not christian.
My mom says that a long long time ago in Japan, Shinto was common and later, Buddhism came from China.
There are a lot of beautiful temples and shrines in Japan but there is no fight or problem between them.
As I mentioned in the beginning, Japan is open not to be monotheism.