What do you think?
Rate this book
Shinto: The Kami Spirit World of Japan
Japanese Shinto is the simple belief that the divine dwells in all things around us!
The Japanese World of Kami Spirits is a concise guide to the fundamental elements of the Shinto religion--its rich mythology and symbols, intricate rituals, festivals, ancestral spirits, awe-inspiring architecture and a profound belief in the divine presence in the natural world around us.
Readers will discover here the pervasive influence of Shinto on all aspects of contemporary Japanese life and culture. From the hallowed shrines nestled in wooded landscapes to the vibrant tapestry of contemporary Japanese manga, films and video games featuring Kami spirits and characters--Shinto is ever-present.
This modernized classic, with new color and b&w images and a new foreword by bestselling author Hector Garcia, reminds us of the intrinsic connection between humanity and nature. Shinto's reverence for the divine in all aspects of nature can inspire and guide us to achieve a more harmonious and sustainable future.
The Japanese World of Kami Spirits is a concise guide to the fundamental elements of the Shinto religion--its rich mythology and symbols, intricate rituals, festivals, ancestral spirits, awe-inspiring architecture and a profound belief in the divine presence in the natural world around us.
Readers will discover here the pervasive influence of Shinto on all aspects of contemporary Japanese life and culture. From the hallowed shrines nestled in wooded landscapes to the vibrant tapestry of contemporary Japanese manga, films and video games featuring Kami spirits and characters--Shinto is ever-present.
This modernized classic, with new color and b&w images and a new foreword by bestselling author Hector Garcia, reminds us of the intrinsic connection between humanity and nature. Shinto's reverence for the divine in all aspects of nature can inspire and guide us to achieve a more harmonious and sustainable future.
144 pages, Paperback
Published April 23, 2024
16 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Sokyo Ono
4 books6 followersEl Dr. Sokyo Ono fue catedrático de la Universidad Kokugakuin Daikaku, la universidad sintoísta de Tokio y conferenciante habitual de la Asociación Nacional de Santuarios Sintoístas. También ha ocupado el cargo de director ejecutivo del Instituto Internacional para el Estudio de las Religiones y el Consejo de Cooperación de las Religiones de Japón.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 12, 2024
This is an alright introduction to Shinto, but it really shows its age. I would also say that the author glorifies Shinto practices and is biased in his writing. He glosses over sensitive subjects (like the relationship between Shinto and fascism) and tries to spin the religion into being “inherently good”; as if any religion truly can be just that.
If you decide to pick this book up you’d do well to remember that it was written in the 1960s and isn’t living up to today’s academic expectations.
If you decide to pick this book up you’d do well to remember that it was written in the 1960s and isn’t living up to today’s academic expectations.
June 28, 2024
This book is . . . OK.
Pros:
* Simple structure that doesn't dwell too long on any one topic
* Explains all sorts of material culture and practices
* Explains some of the contemporary organization
* Images to show designs of different sacred motifs, architecture
* Some mythology
Cons
* Zero citations
* Glosses over the persecution of Christians, persecution of Buddhists, half-century of fascism episodes of Shinto history
* Presents a suspiciously rosy picture of premodern Japanese feudal clan society
Pros:
* Simple structure that doesn't dwell too long on any one topic
* Explains all sorts of material culture and practices
* Explains some of the contemporary organization
* Images to show designs of different sacred motifs, architecture
* Some mythology
Cons
* Zero citations
* Glosses over the persecution of Christians, persecution of Buddhists, half-century of fascism episodes of Shinto history
* Presents a suspiciously rosy picture of premodern Japanese feudal clan society
December 4, 2024
This book provides an overview of Shinto that is informative for an outsider/visitor to Japan.
July 9, 2025
Shinto: The Kami Spirit World of Japan is a nice collection of work of Japanese culture, going over the various aspects of Japanese life and Shinto spirits.
The book is an honest insight and from what I understand it is an older work with a foreword by Hector Garcia, who also extensively cited this book in his own work.
The book covers the rituals, beliefs, modes of worship, and many other aspects of Shinto in this book. Where there is no fixed mode of worship, this book draws some guiding lines.
I am once again amazed at how similar Shinto is to Sanatan Dharm (commonly known by foreigners as "Hinduism"). The constant pressure from colonizers and invading forces for the last 800 years has created the centralisation and homogenisation that militant Shintoists can only dream about.
However, there is a sense of purity to Shinto Dharma, and one can only imagine what Sanatan Dharm and Indian/South Asian society as a whole would have been like it the invasion and rule of Islam and Christianity never happened. Tough times created a tough religion; and the promulgation of the Vedas, the militant restrictions on cow meat, rigidification of castes, and the modern renaissance of Hindutva can all be traced back to the consistent colonial imposition that one finds missing in Japan.
In addition to the content of the book, I would love to read a sociological work on Japanese society too, going over the manifestation of various castes, intermarriage amongst them (the princess married a "commoner" is casteism from what I know - I could be wrong), and how these got reformed over time and how they continue to exist today.
The best example of this dichotomy to me seems to be how,. despite many similarities, there seem to be only three types of priestly castes in Japan, compared to the complex interwoven lineages of clans in Bharat (that is, India).
A must read for any fan of Japan.
8/10
For a more extensive review, check out my review on this book on Medium!
The book is an honest insight and from what I understand it is an older work with a foreword by Hector Garcia, who also extensively cited this book in his own work.
The book covers the rituals, beliefs, modes of worship, and many other aspects of Shinto in this book. Where there is no fixed mode of worship, this book draws some guiding lines.
I am once again amazed at how similar Shinto is to Sanatan Dharm (commonly known by foreigners as "Hinduism"). The constant pressure from colonizers and invading forces for the last 800 years has created the centralisation and homogenisation that militant Shintoists can only dream about.
However, there is a sense of purity to Shinto Dharma, and one can only imagine what Sanatan Dharm and Indian/South Asian society as a whole would have been like it the invasion and rule of Islam and Christianity never happened. Tough times created a tough religion; and the promulgation of the Vedas, the militant restrictions on cow meat, rigidification of castes, and the modern renaissance of Hindutva can all be traced back to the consistent colonial imposition that one finds missing in Japan.
In addition to the content of the book, I would love to read a sociological work on Japanese society too, going over the manifestation of various castes, intermarriage amongst them (the princess married a "commoner" is casteism from what I know - I could be wrong), and how these got reformed over time and how they continue to exist today.
The best example of this dichotomy to me seems to be how,. despite many similarities, there seem to be only three types of priestly castes in Japan, compared to the complex interwoven lineages of clans in Bharat (that is, India).
A must read for any fan of Japan.
8/10
For a more extensive review, check out my review on this book on Medium!
September 14, 2025
Such an interesting insight into the world of Shintoism.
March 8, 2025
Written in the 1960s this book takes a simple approach to the mysteries of kami-faith. It does show its age at times but is a useful baseline for study.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews