Unpacking Japan 8 million gods: understanding Japan's unique spirituality
10 snips
Jan 9, 2026 
Join author Hiroko Yoda, a translator and pop culture expert, as she delves into Japan's spirituality, exploring Shinto, Buddhism, and the concept of 'Yaoyorozu no Kami'—the eight million spirits. Discover how Japanese identity contrasts with American individualism, and why yokai illustrate deep-rooted animistic traditions. Hiroko also reflects on personal experiences with grief and reconnecting with nature, emphasizing the everyday spirituality found in rituals and shrines, and how her book can act as a gateway for understanding this unique cultural landscape.
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Exchange Year Question Sparked Curiosity
- A preparatory questionnaire for Hiroko's exchange year asked which religion she followed and listed her as Buddhist, which shocked her family.
- That prompt forced her to compare cultures and started her journey to explore Japanese spirituality.
Everything Has A Spirit
- Japanese worldview treats many things as alive: Yaoyorozu no Kami means eight million kami, meaning countless spirits in nature and objects.
- This perspective is cultural rather than strictly religious and influences everyday attitudes toward the world.
Translate Culture, Not Just Words
- When translating cultural concepts, explain context and sometimes keep original words instead of literal translations.
- Define terms like kami and yokai rather than substituting with misleading Western equivalents like 'God' or 'demon'.
