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Religion
Unlike Christainty or Islam, in Japan religion is not exclusive that is why many Japanese believe in Shintoism as well as Buddhism.
Shinto
This is Japanese original religion, an animist religion. Shintoism worships natural objects. The most important aspect of Shinto is that ancestors are worshipped. It was believed that the current imperial line traces hertiage to the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu. Shinto gods number in thousands.
Buddhism
In the 5th and 6th centuries, the Japanese were introduced to Buddhism by Koreans. Prince Shotoku adopted Buddhism as a state religion for the ruling class, and existed side by side with Shintoism. Pure Land Buddhims decreed that anyone could gain salvation by sincere chanting of the Amida Buddha's name.
Zen Buddhism
This caught on in the early Kamakura period. Zen relied on zazen(meditation) and koan (philosopical riddles) to achieve enlightenment. A believer would constantly think of the riddle until all other thoughts left his head. Only then he could he achieve enlightment.
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