Shinto

Shinto is the indigenous religious tradition of Japan, with very ancient roots and no single founder. It centers on kami, which are spirits or deities associated with nature, ancestors, and particular places. Shinto practices focus on purity, offerings, and rituals at shrines, as well as festivals and rites of passage. It is often practiced alongside Buddhism in Japan.

Shinto is not monotheistic; it involves many kami and does not have a single revealed scripture, a pope, or a doctrinal system like Catholicism. Instead, it emphasizes harmony with nature, community life, and respect for local traditions, with a strong sense of place and continuity with the past.