Monthly Archives: March 2012

Otafuku and Uzume

Posted on March 25, 2012 by John D.

  Otafuku is a curious crossbreed character, familiar to anyone who lives in Japan.  She’s a dumpy, homely, cheery faced figure who’s also a bringer of happiness.  At some shrines she’s given out as an engimono (good luck charm).  But … Continue reading →

Posted in Fertility, Mythology | 3 Comments

The aesthetics of Shinto

Posted on March 25, 2012 by John D.

  One of the aspects of Shinto which isn’t fully acknowledged is its contribution to Japanese aesthetics. The attention to detail, the concern with appearance, and the cultivation of elegance are all notable traits. Rituals are carefully choreographed and the … Continue reading →

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Fertility festival (Ogata Jinja)

Posted on March 24, 2012 by John D.

  Ogata Jinja is a shrine near Nagoya dedicated to Izanami, who gave birth to the Japanese islands beginning with Awaji Island.  It’s known for its female fertility symbols and attracts women seeking marriage or the birth of a child. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Fertility, Festivals | 1 Comment

Shirakami-Sanchi Proclamation

Posted on March 24, 2012 by John D.

Recently I’ve been researching Japan’s sixteen World Heritage Sites.  One of them is the mountainous forest range in northern Honshu known as Shirakami-Sanchi.  it has one of the largest primeval beech forests in the world, and reading about it led … Continue reading →

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Iseyama Kotai Jingu (Yokohama)

Posted on March 23, 2012 by John D.

  Iseyama Kotai Jingu is Yokohama’s main shrine. I expected it to be an ancient affair, but found instead it was a nineteenth-century construction and one that typified the politics of early Meiji times. For someone who enjoys history, like … Continue reading →

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Kazuhiko Kiyono: trainee priest

Posted on March 21, 2012 by John D.

Could you tell us about your background? At Waseda University I studied the politics of forest conservation and did an internship in Kenya.  It made me think about the role of culture and how to make use of traditional ways. … Continue reading →

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Shingon syncretism

Posted on March 20, 2012 by John D.

  On a recent visit to Yokohama, I happened to visit the huge Shingon temple of Kawasaki Daishi and was struck by some of the syncretic elements on show. Shingon, it is often said, is the closest Buddhist sect to … Continue reading →

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Fertility festival (Honen Matsuri)

Posted on March 15, 2012 by John D.

Today is Honen Matsuri at Tagata Jinja in the small town of Komaki, outside Nagoya, which attracts a lot of attention among Westerners because of its phallus-based rituals.  It says much about the repressions of a Christian-based culture.  The main … Continue reading →

Posted in Fertility, Festivals | 2 Comments

Eco-Shinto or eco-nationalism? (Part Two)

Posted on March 14, 2012 by John D.

Arne Kalland, professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Oslo, here responds to an article by Aike Rots on Shinto’s sacred forests (see Part One.)  For the full article, click here. ******************************************************************************************************* The Japanese national essence Nihonjinron [the debate about … Continue reading →

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Eco-Shinto or eco-nationalism? (Part One)

Posted on March 13, 2012 by John D.

Our friend Aike Rots is carrying out research on Shinto’s environmental policies.   Here is an extract from a piece he has written entitled “Shinto’s sacred forests”.  (The full article can be found here.) ********************************************************************* Interestingly, in Japan, Jinja Honchō … Continue reading →

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Posted in Green issues | 2 Comments