Over 90% of people in Japan practice Shinto, Buddhism, or a mixture of both as their religion. They’re so lax and nondescript about it, it’s hard to even capture accurate numbers for the statistics. I’m not an expert by any means, but having observed Japanese spirituality much in books, movies, and in the country, it strikes me as the most sustainable form of religion for the modern world for many people.
In Japan, religion is always a “may,” never a “must.” There is no, “do this, or you’ll go to hell.” No prophet to arrive any time soon and “smite down the nonbelievers.” Though very much present throughout Japan’s—like any country’s—history, aggression is notably absent from the spiritual aspects of the culture. You can visit a shrine and pray every day or never do so at all. Both are perfectly acceptable.
Yet, spirituality is always present. There are thousands of shrines, Zen gardens, and religious site dotted throughout every prefecture and every city. You’ll passively “soak up” spiritual energy even if all you do is walk around and look at the pretty sights.
Customs are loosely defined and open to everyone. I can walk into a shrine, bow at the gate, buy a token for 200 yen, donate it, ring the bell, bow, clap, and make a wish—just like every other person in that spot, be they Japanese or a foreigner. The money supports the shrine’s upkeep and staff, and the ritual makes me feel good while reminding me to practice good manners, and not just at shrines. That’s different than a collection bag being passed around during mass, where your neighbors see exactly how much you do or do not donate. There’s less peer pressure. It’s a somewhat commercialized karma system, but it doesn’t feel forced or exploitative.
There are exceptions and extremists in Japan, too, of course. And there’s a lot more here than I could ever cover, plus I still know very little. But I believe religion should feel nice and supportive. It should be a power-up for everyday life, not yet another list of chores and duties to fulfill…or else. It’s nice to follow routines and traditions to get more stability in your life. But when you’re following them just to follow them or please others, they, too, become shackles.
Today, life comes at us hard. Younger generations face as much, if not more, future uncertainty and everyday chaos as older ones. If religion truly wants to help us with our challenges, perhaps it must also change. Thankfully, life is what we do next—and from Christianity to Islam to Hinduism, Buddhism, and, yes, Shinto, the possibilities are wide open to all of us.
