It is said that not a few animations are influenced by Shinto. While I do not consider this in itself an incorrect, I think it is an expression that captures only one aspect.
It is a natural method of expression, but…
In film and anime, expression that assumes a common understanding of the audience shortcuts the understanding of the story, and that is not a special method. On the other hand, the concept of Shinto has been sublimaled into a uniquely Japanese culture as I mentioned in my post “Japanese have no religion?“. Therefore, creating a story based on Japanese culture is a natural method of expression for Japanese film and animation; in other words, it is a story based on Shinto, and as a result, Japanese animation is merely seen as being influenced by Shinto.
But I believe, however, that many Japanese creators deeply sympathize with the foundations of Japanese culture, including Shinto, and reflect this in their works, rather than simply using it as an expressive technique.
In this post, we will introduce some anime that are said to have been influenced by Shinto. Knowing the background of these works may help you see them from a different perspective.
千と千尋の神隠し, Sen-to-Chihiro-no-Kami-Kakushi (Spirited Away)
This anime film is famous for its many Shinto influences. Many kami appear in it. They are truly 八百万神,Ya-o-yorozu-no-Kami (countless kami). Also, Kami in the anime are common people, and most of them are groups. You can see that the Kami that Japanese people are familiar with are very close to them.
The scene in which Kamis gather from all over to the country at bathhouse called “油屋, Aburaya” where Chihiro works is derived from a popular belief that Kamis gather and have a meeting in Izumo once a year. This month in which the kamis gather is called “神無月, Kan-na-zuki”, which means “the month of Kami’s absence”, and is a Japan’s old (lunisolar) calendar of October (now November). On the other hand, in Izumo, where the Kamis gather, the same month is called “Kami-ari-zuki”, meaning “the month of Kami’s presence”. And even today, some jinja have rituals related to this summit conference of Kamis.
In addition to this, many other Shinto influences can be seen in this anime film. But even if you do not know these backgrounds, I recommend that you watch this anime film as it is enjoyable enough.
君の名は。, Kimi-no-Na-wa. (Your Name)
This anime film contains many elements and words of Shinto and “古事記, Kojiki (Records of Anchient of Matters)”.
I would like to add a few words about “古事記, Kojiki (Records of Anchient of Matters)”. It’s an early Japanese chronicle of myths, legends, hymns, genealogies, oral traditions, and semi-historical accounts down to 641 concerning the origin of the Japanese archipelago, the kami, and the Japanese imperial line. Although Shinto has no single founder, nor any single canonical text, this “古事記, Kojiki (Records of Anchient of Matters)” is one of Shinto scripture.
Among the many Shinto and Kojiki words in this anime. I would like to explain the word “Musubi” to help you better understand the anime. Musubi (originally “Musuhi”) means Knotting in English and is a Shinto concept that refers to the spiritual work that generates, develops, and perfects heaven, earth, and all things. And “Musubi” has various meanings in Japanese, such as “connect”, “summarize”, “create”, “solidify”, and “grip”, in addition to the meaning of “to tie a string around something”, and is also used in the sense of “to connect a relationship with someone”, “to form a bond”, and “to connect the heart”. You will notice that various “Musubi” are scattered throughout the anime. To begin with, the main character “Mitsuha” is a child of a Shinto shrine, so several Shinto rituals, such as Kagura, can be seen in the anime.
I’ve left out a few details to avoid spoilers, but I recommend that you watch this anime film as it is enjoyable enough.
鬼滅の刃, Kimetsu-no-Yaiba (Demon Slayer)
This anime is more influenced by Japanese mythology, such as “古事記, Kojiki (Records of Anchient of Matters)”, than by Shinto.
The highest-ranking swordsman of “鬼殺隊, Ki-Satsu-Tai (Demon Slayers Corps)” that appears in the anime are called “柱, Hashira”. The Hashira means pillar, but Hashira in the work may be influenced by a counting suffix of Kami described in the “古事記, Kojiki”.
Above all, the author herself says at the end of the book that the title candidates for her works were “鬼狩りカグツチ, Oni-Gari-Kagutsuchi (Kagutsuchi the hunting down demons)”, “炭火カグツチ, Sumibi-Kagutsuchi (Kagutsuchi th charcoal fire)”, etc. This “Kagutsuchi” is probably the “火之迦具土神,Hi-no-kagutsuchi-no-kami” mentioned in the “古事記,Kojiki”.
“火之迦具土神,Hi-no-kagutsuchi-no-kami” is Kami of fire, and is one of Kami enshrined in places where fire is used, such as hearths, kitchens, and “竈, Kamado (cooking stoves)”. He is also one of Kami of the blacksmithing.
Let’s look at the name of the main character, “竈門 炭治郎, Kamado Tanjiro”. The “竈, Kamado” in his last name means cooking stove, and the “炭, tan” in his first name means charcoal. So the name “竈門炭治郎, Kamado Tanjiro” seems to have been influenced directly by “火之迦具土神,Hi-no-kagutsuchi-no-kami”.
In addition to this, there are many other parts in which “鬼滅の刃 (Deamon Slayer)” seems to have been influenced by “古事記, Kojiki (Records of Anchient of Matters)”, but I will not go into details because it would be a spoiler.
Finally, this anime was edited by a group of talented creators that I love, ufotable. I recommend that you watch it, as it is a very high quality animation produced by ufotable, a company with excellent visual technology.
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