Shinto mythology is centered around kami, spiritual beings that represent natural forces, ancestors, and creation itself. Among them, Amaterasu, the sun goddess, stands as the most important figure, ...

TOKYOTOKYO — Emperor Akihito prayed at a Japanese shrine Thursday in a ritual to report his upcoming abdication to the Shinto gods. The 85-year-old emperor will retire on April 30 in the first ...

Visitors performing ablutions during a pilgrimage to the Kiyoshikojin Seicho-ji temple complex on a wooded mountain just north of Osaka, Japan. About 3.5 million people visit the complex annually, ...