[Nyororin]

I think that the western concept of "religion" doesn`t apply to Japan, so it appears that there is no religion.

The truth is, it`s so ingrained in daily life that Japanese people themselves don`t actively think about it. The same type of guy who says "I don`t believe in any religion" is often the type who will refuse to drive a new car until it has been blessed. Ask why - and he`ll say it`s because it`s not safe, and that you have to make some offering about it. It`s such a deep part of regular life that it doesn`t register as "religion" among those practicing it. It is just part of life - If you say "religion" it means going to a church etc and worshipping something. Japanese people don`t do that, so it`s really easy to say they don`t have a religion.