February 29, 2012 A Shinto Response to the March 2011 Disasters
in Japan Shinto is the indigenous spirituality of Japan, its
beliefs and practices woven into the fabric of Japanese culture
and society. Shinto shrines play diverse social roles in their
respective communities throughout Japan. Following the March 11,
2011 earthquake and tsunami, Shinto shrines have played various
roles in the relief and reconstruction efforts. Professor Kevin
M. Doak presented a general overview of Shinto in the Japanese
historical context, followed by Rev. Masafumi Nakanishi, who
spoke specifically to the Shinto response to the 2011 disasters.
The panel discussion was jointly organized by the Berkley Center
for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, the SFS Asian Studies
Program, The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures,
the Japan Disaster Relief Committee, the World Faiths
Development Dialogue, and the International Shinto Foundation.
Rev. Nakanishi also performed a Shinto ritual in remembrance of
the victims of March