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This blog explores my life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile among other things. I like to share information and help make the Internet a better place.
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Category Archives: Shinto
Shinto In The 21st Century
Hi Everyone, Recently, I found this interesting article by the Japan Times about efforts to keep Shinto relevant in the 21st century. The article talks about the efforts to reach out foreign guests and let them experience Shinto life in … Continue reading
Taboo in the Heian Period of Japan
Recently, while reading reading the Gossamer Years, I found the book contained a thorough explanation of the notion of “taboo” and “purification” in the Heian Court in Japan. I wanted to share this with others. Aristocrats and the Heian Court … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Confucius, Literature, Shinto, Taoism, Zelazny
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Happy Setsubun 2013!
Setsubun (節分) is a holiday I have posted about before, but usually it happens on a weekday and I am at work, so I can’t really celebrate with my wife and daughter. It is one of many little “seasonal” holidays … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Japan, Shinto
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A Brief Glance At Ancient Roman Religion
Normally, when I talk about religion on this blog (a favorite topic of mine), I usually talk about Japanese/Korean religion, with Buddhism in particular. But since I also study Latin a little bit as a hobby, I also got curious … Continue reading
Make Your Own Shinto Shrine
Hi all, As part of my last trip to Japan in August 2012, I visited a famous Shinto shrine named Yushima Tenmangu near Ueno Park.1 I visited there in 2010, and prayed that I would pass the JLPT N2 exam, … Continue reading
Posted in Japan, Religion, Shinto, Travel
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Shinto Shrines in Japan: An Introduction
While filming the tenth video in the Beginner Buddhism series, we also had some time to film a smaller video on visiting Shinto shrines in Japan: This was a famous Shinto shrine very close to Setagaya Kannon-ji, called Komatsunagi Shrine … Continue reading
Posted in Japan, Religion, Shinto, Travel
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Is There More Than This?
Lately, I’ve been thinking about a quote from Roger Zelazny’s Isle of the Dead:1 Even if they had been real gods, what did it matter? What was it to me? Here I was still, right where I was born a … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Confucius, Literature, Religion, Shinto, Zelazny
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A Brief History of Confucianism in Edo-Period Japan
I spent part of last year reading a fascinating collection of essays under the title of Confucianism and Tokugawa Culture by Peter Nosco and other contributors. The book and the essays examine the Edo Period, the Tokugawa Shogunate, and how … Continue reading
Day 3 of 2012: Meiji Shrine in Tokyo
In case anyone thought I forgot about this after coming back to the US, let me talk about my visit to Meiji Shrine on the third day of Japanese New Year. The first day, for hatsumode we visited Kawasaki Daishi, … Continue reading
2012 Day 2: Adventures at the NHK Studio
Compared to the excitement of our first day in 2012, day 2 was a lot quieter. We had no real plans, so we just went to the Shibuya district in Tokyo, which is relatively easy for us to get to … Continue reading
