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Momo Nomura, a graphic artist and entrepreneur, visits a shrine near her business meetings or trips almost weekly. She prays first according to the Shinto rules, then heads to the

Japan's modern spiritual landscape thrives as people embrace ancient traditions through shrine visits, temple stamp collections and moments of...

TOKYO (AP) — Japan has a long history of pragmatism about traditional religions, which often serve more as connections to family and community than as theological guides, as in the West.

TOKYO (AP) – In Japan, Momo Nomura makes time to visit Shinto shrines almost every week. She performs the prescribed rituals — cleansing her hands, ringing a bell, bowing and clapping. But her main purpose is getting a Goshuin, a stamp with elegant calligraphy that shrines provide for a fee to certify the visit. She […]

TOKYO (AP) — Almost weekly Momo Nomura makes time to visit Shinto shrines. She performs the prescribed rituals — cleansing her hands, ringing a bell, bowing and clapping. But her

Almost weekly Momo Nomura makes time to visit Shinto shrines. She performs the prescribed rituals — cleansing her hands, ringing a bell, bowing and clapping. But her main purpose is getting a Goshuin, a stamp with elegant calligraphy that shrines provide for a fee to ...

Almost weekly Momo Nomura makes time to visit Shinto shrines. “Because of the Goshuin, shrines have become closer to me, but I don’t consider this a religious activity,” Nomura said after getting her stamp and taking selfies at Sakura Jingu, a western Tokyo shrine established in 1882 as a minority Shinto sect focused on traditional values. Nomura, who posts about her hobby on social media as Goshuin Girl, says she enjoys the stamp designs, and shrine visits allow a moment ...

Almost weekly Momo Nomura makes time to visit Shinto shrines. She performs the prescribed rituals — cleansing her hands, ringing a bell, bowing and clapping. But her main purpose is getting a Goshuin, a stamp with elegant calligraphy that shrines provide for a fee to certify the visit.

In Japan, the fusion of traditions is evident as Christmas gift exchanges coexist with the Buddhist temple bell ringing on New Years Eve.

Many Japanese people visit Shinto shrines and collect Goshuin stamps without considering it a religious activity. About 70% of people in Japan have no