This book is a collection of essays, columns, articles and academic papers written in Tokyo from 1990 through 1993. In my four-year stay in Japan, I came to not only enjoy and appreciate Shinto and it’s many expressions, but to actually accept many of it’s tenets (at least as workable theses) and to participate first-hand in many Shinto festivals. To those who are enamored by “Japanalia,”  there may be a shock involved in realizing that the philosophical and religious foundation on which ultra-modern “Japan, Inc.” rests is an ancient shamanic magical tradition that venerates innumerable spirits, powers and gods/goddesses in what can only be termed a sophisticated form of nature worship. In private conversations several Japanese have confided in me that they see the power that Japan has exerted (for good or ill, in war and in peace) as proof that the emperor and the people of this small country have a very special relationship with the Kami that inhabit and form Heaven and Earth. There may be something to be said for this and there is certainly room for many exhaustive studies of the implications of the “sociology of Shinto.”

     Though I have a Masters Degree in Ancient History, my academic curiosity about Shinto soon became overshadowed by my journalistic urgings. During my stay in Japan I worked for a number of periodicals and journals, only a few of which were academic in orientation. Thus, my goal became to research, understand and then explain in a plain manner Shinto, it’s festivals (and some of the more obscure aspects of magic in Japan that so fascinated me) to others. Eventually I’d like to return to this subject in the form of a Phd. thesis, yet this collection here has absolutely no pretensions towards this end! These articles, for the most part, were simply meant to entertain and to enlighten people visiting or residing in Japan as to exactly what, why, where and how Shinto and it’s festivals manifested in that country. 

     They appeared in the following magazines:  The Tokyo Weekender (as a monthly column), City Life News, Eye Ai Magazine (as a column), Tokyo Today Magazine, The Japan International Journal, Terra Magazine, Via Magazine, The Soka Woman’s College Academic Journal, The Journal of Soka University and, in the USA, in Green Egg Magazine. 

     One of the main problems I immediately encountered when I began asking my questions and researching the enigma of Shinto was how few resources and books there were on the subject! Even in Japan I had great difficulty finding materials, even in Japanese (which I am not by any means fluent in.) It is for this reason that I am extremely grateful to several people for the help and information they have given me or led me to. 

     First, I wish to thank all the many Japanese students and the staff at Sundai ELS Junior College in Tokyo who helped me so much by providing folklore, traditions, explanations, examples of folk art, and guidance and in general doing everything they could to help me in my quest for some kind of understanding during the four years I worked there. Though I’m sure I often sounded insane and clearly disturbed them innumerable times, they never ceased to be gracious and helpful: Honto ne Domo Arigato!  Thanks to Professor Nishimoto of Soka Woman’s College for his friendship and support. I would also like to thank Professor Ueda, the very gracious Director of the Institute for Japanese Culture and Classics at Kokugakuin University who allowed this ignorant fool to use the private library of the Department of Shinto Studies and to take up his valuable time. Another big thank you to the various editors (especially Corky Alexander) who encouraged me, kept me very busy with writing assignments and (most importantly) who consistently paid to do something I enjoyed. 

     A final bow of thanks goes to all my friends in Japan and to my wife and child who put up with my endless obsession with shrines, kami-sama, charms, rituals and festivals with good humor, support,  patience and editorial assistance. 

     Dozo!  Enjoy.

     All comments welcome care of the publisher.
 

Denny Sargent 
Summer, 1993