Why Countless Gods Shape Japan’s Sacred Landscape

Understanding Yaoyorozu and the Spiritual Flexibility of Japanese Belief

“Why does Japan have so many gods?”

This is a question often asked by those from abroad seeking a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, and it points directly to the uniquely Japanese concept of Yaoyorozu no Kami（八百万の神）. To begin, let us approach this question through the lens of cultural anthropology and comparative religious studies as viewed from …