During my first week in Japan 26 years ago, one of the first things I did was visit Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture. I knew little about Shinto and nothing about Miyajima, except that the entire island was sacred and that a large torii rose from the sea in front of the main shrine, Itsukushima.
As my ferry approached the island, those towering torii loomed like a portal to another world. Beyond lay the vermillion corridors of the floating shrine, set against the backdrop of the forest-covered Mount Misen. I realized that I was in the presence of something completely outside my previous experience, something both mysterious and exciting.
Now I know a little more about Shinto. After all, it is such an integral part of daily life in Japan, from the ubiquitous shrines to the beautiful ones matsuri (festivals) and daily rituals. Then there are all the video games, movies and manga based on Shinto characters and myths. Nevertheless, my knowledge remains fragmented and woefully incomplete.
