asuka chan
Shinto is not a closed religion /faith
I keep seeing this being spread around, but:
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Shinto is not a closed religion or practice.
None of the 12 government registered Shinto sects/schools are closed to outsiders.
Some folk Shinto practices are closed to locals only, not based on ethnicity.
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Sources:
Jinja Honcho, Association of Shinto shrines website (Organizer of the majority of Shinto shrines across Japan)
http://www.jinjahoncho.or.jp/en/
Kyoharen, the Kyoha Shinto informational website (Japanese only):
My reading list,
www.livingwithkami.com/reading
Which hosts a list of 32 overseas shrines (outside of Japan)
As well as 66 Japanese shrines with English sections
In addition to the other English resources, including sources by Shinto priests, and Kokugakuin University (the governing school of Shinto studies)
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If Shinto was closed to Japanese people only, none of these resources or translations would exist.
Japanese people would not want to expand, nor would the governing bodies allow expansion of Shinto outside of Japan if it was closed.
In addition, there are no signs at a Shinto shrine saying “no foreigners allowed” and in fact multilingual signs are prominent on major shrine grounds.
Please stop saying Shinto is a closed practice.
You are harming the health and sustainability of shrines overseas, as well as general efforts to spread Shinto overseas and let it be known by people around the world.
Shinto can be practiced by all as long as it is done properly and in line with traditions and respect.
Thank you.



