{"id":26886,"date":"2020-05-29T05:15:55","date_gmt":"2020-05-29T04:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=26886"},"modified":"2022-02-11T11:40:56","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T11:40:56","slug":"shinto-and-buddhist-influences-on-anime-and-manga-part-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/29\/shinto-and-buddhist-influences-on-anime-and-manga-part-i\/","title":{"rendered":"Shinto and Buddhist Influences on Anime and Manga &#8211; Part I"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26886&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26886\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26886&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26886&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26886%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26886\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26886\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Part I<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Just as Christian symbolism and references have made their way into popular media worldwide, Japanese religions have also made an impression on the country\u2019s main media export:\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">manga<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and anime. References to Japanese religion and folklore often appear in media as tropes, which the website TV Tropes defines as, \u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">storytelling device[s] or convention[s]&#8230;shortcut[s] for describing situations the storyteller can reasonably assume the audience will recognize.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Some of these storytelling devices are recognizable to a majority of viewers, but other tropes intended to connect with a Japanese audience may fly over the heads of viewers who grew up in other cultures. You may have caught subtle religious references in your favorite anime; maybe the main characters pay a visit to a shrine on New Year\u2019s Day, receive a charm or amulet for protection, or light incense for someone who has passed away.\u00a0 In a number of well-known anime feature films, series, and <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">manga<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, elements drawn from Shinto and<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Buddhism play a significant role in the main story.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27105\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27105\" style=\"width: 488px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27105\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Unknown-1-1-720x960.jpeg\" alt=\"Inari \" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Unknown-1-1-720x960.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Unknown-1-1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Unknown-1-1-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Unknown-1-1-423x564.jpeg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Unknown-1-1-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Unknown-1-1-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Unknown-1-1-1200x1600.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Unknown-1-1-900x1200.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Unknown-1-1-1440x1920.jpeg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Unknown-1-1-390x520.jpeg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Unknown-1-1-780x1040.jpeg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Unknown-1-1-510x680.jpeg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27105\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Inari: god of rice at Kyoto&#8217;s Fushimi Inari Shrine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Before we take a look at these specific media, I\u2019ll very briefly review Japanese religion and its role in Japanese daily life. Most Japanese people practice a blend of Shinto and Buddhist traditions. Shinto, literally \u201cThe Way of\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Kami<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d is an indigenous Japanese spiritual practice. According to Shinto, supernatural entities called\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">kami<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0(often translated as \u201cgods\u201d or \u201cspirits\u201d) inhabit all things. There are\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">kami<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0in natural phenomena like trees, mountains, and rivers, fire, and natural disasters, as well as in modern technology, in people, and in concepts such as fertility and wealth. With the introduction of Buddhism into Japan, some of these\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">kami<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0were anthropomorphized and given human forms, and some Japanese Buddhists consider\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">kami<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0to be manifestations of the Buddha. Some scholars also consider\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">bakemono<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, or monsters from Japanese folklore like\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">kappa<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">tengu<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">oni<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, to be part of the <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">kami <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">pantheon. Shinto has no holy book or founder, and the practice focuses heavily on rituals. Many of these rituals have to do with purification or washing away pollution or taint. For instance, Shinto shrines have a fountain or trough near the entrance where visitors can ritually purify themselves by using a bamboo ladle to pour water over their hands before entering.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/newsletter\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-32186 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-6.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"256\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Japan\u2019s other main religion, Buddhism, originated in ancient India and slowly made its way across the Asian continent, eventually arriving in Japan in the 6th century via Korea. Buddhism encompasses many diverse practices and sects, and is largely based on the teachings of the spiritual teacher Gautama Siddhartha, known as the Buddha. Throughout the decades of Buddhist development in Japan, a number of different sects emerged, the largest of which is Pure Land Buddhism and Zen Buddhism. Buddhism mainly governs death and the afterlife in Japan, and the Buddhist elements present in everyday Japanese life mainly have to do with death and remembrance of ancestors. Most funeral services and cemeteries in Japan are Buddhist, and most Japanese families have a Buddhist altar (<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">butsudan<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">) in their homes where they can give offerings and pray for deceased loved ones.\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Obon<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, one of the most significant holidays in the Japanese calendar, is a Buddhist event commemorating ancestors\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">during which people return to their hometowns or the areas where relatives are buried to reunite with family, make offerings, and tidy their ancestors\u2019 graves.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Few Japanese consider themselves to be religious in the way that an American or Brit might describe themselves as religious. However, many Japanese people participate in both Buddhist and Shinto traditions throughout the year, particularly during major holidays. Therefore, though few Japanese people describe themselves as practicing Buddhists or <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Shintoists<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, the symbols and tropes associated with these religions are familiar and recognizable to a general audience in Japan. In many popular media, spiritual elements have shaped the story by acting as protagonists, antagonists, or the source of special powers and abilities.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27111\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27111\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27111 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/JNTO_Yakushima1-720x592.jpg\" alt=\"Yakushima Island\" width=\"720\" height=\"592\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/JNTO_Yakushima1-720x592.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/JNTO_Yakushima1-300x247.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/JNTO_Yakushima1-1024x842.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/JNTO_Yakushima1-768x632.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/JNTO_Yakushima1-564x464.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/JNTO_Yakushima1-1536x1263.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/JNTO_Yakushima1-2048x1684.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/JNTO_Yakushima1-1200x987.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/JNTO_Yakushima1-900x740.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/JNTO_Yakushima1-1440x1184.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/JNTO_Yakushima1-390x321.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/JNTO_Yakushima1-780x642.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/JNTO_Yakushima1-510x419.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27111\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yakushima Island&#8217;s primeval forests are said to have inspired Miyazaki for &#8216;Princess Mononoke&#8217;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Shinto and Natural Themes<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As an animistic and pantheistic practice, Shinto is intimately interconnected with nature. As mentioned above, Shinto describes the presence of\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">kami<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0in all elements of life, including natural phenomena. Natural motifs and humanity\u2019s conflicts with and on behalf of nature are also common themes in\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">anime<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and are perhaps most evident in the films directed by the world-renowned animator <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hayao <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Miyazaki<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Environmentalism is a notable theme throughout Miyazaki\u2019s body of work, and in two of his films, <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Princess <\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mononoke <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Spirited Away<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, the environmentalist sentiment is closely related to Shinto philosophy and the idea of <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">kami<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27089\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27089\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27089 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mononoke_5-720x412.jpg\" alt=\"Kodama Spirits\" width=\"720\" height=\"412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mononoke_5-720x412.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mononoke_5-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mononoke_5-1024x586.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mononoke_5-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mononoke_5-564x323.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mononoke_5-1536x879.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mononoke_5-2048x1173.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mononoke_5-1200x687.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mononoke_5-900x515.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mononoke_5-1440x824.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mononoke_5-390x223.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mononoke_5-780x447.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mononoke_5-510x292.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27089\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kodama &#8216;forest spirits&#8217; from &#8216;Princess Mononoke&#8217; (image courtesy of Studio Ghibli &amp; Studio Canal)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Princess\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mononoke<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a banished prince named\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ashitaka<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0becomes involved in the struggle between a rapidly modernizing and militaristic town and an ancient forest where spirits and gods still reside. In\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Spirited Away<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a young girl named\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Chihiro<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0becomes separated from her mother and father after wandering into a realm populated by spirits. In order to rescue her parents, she begins work at a bathhouse catering to the\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">yaoyorozu<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0no\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">kami<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, the so-called \u201ceight million\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">kami<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d of Shinto. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27107\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27107\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27107 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c0398.0129-720x389.jpg\" alt=\"Radish Spirit\" width=\"720\" height=\"389\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c0398.0129-720x389.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c0398.0129-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c0398.0129-1024x553.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c0398.0129-768x415.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c0398.0129-564x305.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c0398.0129-1536x830.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c0398.0129-2048x1107.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c0398.0129-1200x649.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c0398.0129-900x486.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c0398.0129-1440x778.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c0398.0129-390x211.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c0398.0129-780x422.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c0398.0129-510x276.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27107\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chihiro and the Radish Spirit from &#8216;Sprited Away&#8217; (image courtesy of Studio Ghibli &amp; Studio Canal)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In both films, the main characters meet and interact with various spirits, gods, and monsters\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">who<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0have been damaged or displaced by human activity. In the bathhouse,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Chihiro<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0befriends a river spirit who has lost his identity and memory since his river was filled in and the area developed into apartments.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ashitaka<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> encounters various animal and tree spirits battling against the humans destroying their forest and even meets the otherworldly Forest Spirit itself.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27110\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27110\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27110 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c1306.0116-720x389.jpg\" alt=\"Haku \" width=\"720\" height=\"389\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c1306.0116-720x389.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c1306.0116-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c1306.0116-1024x553.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c1306.0116-768x415.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c1306.0116-564x305.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c1306.0116-1536x830.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c1306.0116-1200x648.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c1306.0116-900x486.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c1306.0116-1440x778.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c1306.0116-390x211.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c1306.0116-780x421.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c1306.0116-510x276.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/c1306.0116.jpg 2010w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27110\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chihiro and Haku the river spirit from &#8216;Spirited Away&#8217; (image courtesy of Studio Ghibli &amp; Studio Canal)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Apart from the roles the actual spirits play in these stories as characters, the movies also carry underlying themes of healing and purification, which are also related to Shinto philosophy. Early on in <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Princess <\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mononoke<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ashitaka <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">encounters a boar god who has been wounded and transformed into a demon from pain and rage. The boar demon injures <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ashitaka<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, who is in turn defiled and leaves his home to seek a cure for his injury. Similarly, within the industrialized village of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Irontown,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0the ambitious Lady\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Eboshi<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0hires and cares for lepers, who were long considered impure or victims of karmic retribution in Japan. Lady\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Eboshi\u2019s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0embrace of the sick and disabled reflects her modern attitudes and conflict with the forest and a local feudal lord, both entities representing older ways of thinking. In\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Spirited Away<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Chihiro<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> encounters a river spirit in the bathhouse whose river has been so polluted with the trash that he is at first\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">an<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0unrecognizable mass of ooze. After\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Chihiro<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0helps the spirit bathe in medicinal\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">onsen<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0water and removes the garbage, the river spirit returns to his normal form and rewards\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Chihiro<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> with powerful medicine. These narratives of redemption through spiritual or physical cleansing intertwine with\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Miyazaki\u2019s environmentalist message; in Miyazaki\u2019s world, human activity is the pollutant in an otherwise pure natural realm.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Want to read more?\u00a0 For more examples of how Japanese Shinto and Buddhist traditions inspire today\u2019s <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">manga<\/span><\/i><\/b><b><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and anime stories, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/29\/shinto-and-buddhist-influences-on-anime-and-manga-part-ii\/\">click through to Part II of this blog post<\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26886&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26886\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26886&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26886&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26886%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26886\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26886\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Part I\u00a0 Just as Christian symbolism and references have made their way into popular media worldwide, Japanese religions have also made an impression on the country\u2019s main media export:\u00a0manga and anime. References to Japanese religion and folklore often appear in media as tropes, which the website TV [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2525,2367],"tags":[1299,1720,1846,2140],"class_list":["post-26886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-japanese-arts-and-entertainment","category-japanese-culture-and-history","tag-anime","tag-japanese-culture","tag-manga","tag-studio-ghibli"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26886"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26886\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32243,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26886\/revisions\/32243"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}