Shintoism and Japanese Folklore

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• Shintoism = A Religion Native to Japan
• Shinto translates to "Way of The Gods"
• It was the official religion of Japan from the late 19th century until 1945, but many people in Japan still follow it, even though it does not actively seek new members
• It acts more as a reflection of Japanese culture and history to which beliefs of folklore are added
• Shinto's main belief, much like hinduism, is to live in harmony with all things
• Kami = The Gods of Shintoism
• Kami translates to "Spirits of Nature" or "Life Forces"
• Since many people in Japan follow Buddhism, there are many people that are mainly Buddhist or Shintoist, but they practice some aspects of the other, so it's hard to count the number of Shintoists.  They are estimated to be between 3.3% and 40% of the Japanese population.  There is an estimated 4 million followers, making it the worlds 15th largest religion.

Who are some of the important Kami of Shintoism?

How does one practice Shintoism?

How has Shintoism changed over the years?