Moriyasu Ito, Shinto priest of the Meiji Jingu Shrine, provided BYU-Hawaii students with information about the shrine located in the center of Tokyo, Japan. In his visit on May 5, Ito explained what Shinto is, the type of things that take place at the shrine and also what the sacredness of the shrine represents.Jarek Buss, a senior majoring in political science from Wyoming, explained the relation BYUH has to Ito. Buss said, “Mr. Ito traveled to BYU Provo in 2005 where he did a homestay and studied at the university for a few weeks. On his way home, he stopped at BYUH and really enjoyed it. This time, he was traveling home from a trip to London and Washington D.C. and had a layover in Hawaii, so he reached out to his friends and contacts here and asked if he could visit again. This visit is part of a much longer relationship between Shinto and the church.”As Ito explained in the presentation, Shinto is not necessarily a religion. Shintoism does not put out doctrine or send missionaries to discuss the religious beliefs. It can best be described as one’s own interpretation of legends and beliefs, and a way of expression and appreciation for the earth. Shinto serves as a channel between the people and Kami (Japanese deity). Shintoism has a strong emphasis on sacred, reverent and pure places where people pray for their needs and wants such as good health and world peace. Ito said approximately 90 percent of the Japanese people follow Shinto and there are 80,000 shrines in Japan.Before entering a shrine, there are certain types of steps people must follow. At the Meiji Jingu Shrine, it is customary that visitors wash their hands and rinse their mouths. In order to show reverence to the Kami, the visitor also must bow twice, clap twice, and bow again to exemplify respect.Ito said anyone can visit the shrine, perform and take part in the festivities that occur at Meiji Jingu. On Nov. 3, the Meiji Jingu Autumn Grand Festival is held to celebrate the birth of the first emperor, Meiji. A Harvest Festival takes place on Nov. 23 to thank the Kami for the blessings of the crops. There are rituals of Shinto prayers, Shinto dances, and ceremonies that acknowledge the champions of Sumo. Buss noted the similarities between Shinto and the LDS Church. Buss said, “One important similarity between Shinto and our own beliefs is the importance of purity. Shinto priests wear white robes for the same symbolic reason we do. They also believe that water can wash away the ‘impurities’ that come to us throughout our lives and dim our vital energy, and they participate in ritual washings before important ceremonies. I think that we can find so much common ground with people who value living an honest, clean, upright life.” Reflecting on the presentation given, BYUH student Daniel Malinconico, a senior majoring in both ICS and history from New Jersey, said, “I really enjoyed the whole experience. I was thoroughly impressed by the video about Shintoism that he shared. It was highly informative and beautifully put together highlighting the majesty of the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. I think that they should make that video public. It really was fantastic.” Buss added, “Mr. Ito did an admirable job of explaining Shinto and answering questions. I think it was an excellent opportunity for non-Japanese students to learn more about Shinto, which is perhaps less of a ‘religion’ as we understand the term, and more of a cultural outlook on life that is inseparable from Japanese identity. For the Japanese students, it was a great chance to meet several very important people from their own country, network with them, and share their own experiencesat BYUH.”Sala McCarthy-Stonex, a junior majoring in political science from Laie, said, “I loved the presentation. I’m a big fan of Japan, the language, culture, etc.…and so learning even more about Shintoism was fun…The most interesting thing would probably be that their largest shrine, Meiji Jingu, is located right in the middle of such a busy and highly populated city. I realize they built it when it wasn’t so busy and modern, but the fact that the Japanese still honor it enough to not destroy it is amazing. Lastly, I also loved that I was able to get the business card of the director of the Meiji Jingu Intercultural Research Institute, as I’m going there in the summer.” Malinconico concluded by saying, “Overall I am very glad that I was able to go and for those who did not go really missed out on this special opportunity. As a student body, we are very homogeneous when it comes to our religious beliefs, but I believe that as we strive to better understand others we can more readily be a blessing to the world at large.”Uploaded May 21, 2015
Writer: Alyssa Troyanek
