At university, I not only majored in Japanese, but also in Study of Religions, which included a smattering of philosophy, critical theory, Islam, Shinto, and more.
Many of my essays focused on religion in Japan, primarily on how the ‘foreign’ concept of religion manifested itself over the years. My essay promoting the use of the word kami 神 was used as an example paper for the Advanced Theory in the Study of Religions course at SOAS, as well as at Akita University.
Religion in Tokyo
Post-university, I found ways to write about religion in an accessible manner, either through food, etiquette guides or infographic-type articles. My work includes articles on understanding the difference between shrines and temples (spoiler: they used to be combined), and some of Tokyo’s more unorthodox shrines. Besides this, I wrote the first Japanese cuisine-focused halal food guide for Time Out Tokyo.
I also have a rather curious connection with Meiji Jingu, Tokyo’s largest shrine. As part of the Time Out Tokyo team, I was asked to be on Tanken Bakumon, a TV show on NHK, to highlight the diversity of visitors at Meiji Jingu in recent years. More recently, I was in charge of creating the text for the new English signboards and infoboards inside the shrine precincts, in collaboration with JTB and the Japanese Ministry of Tourism. If you spot them, do send me a signboard selfie.
Kirsty Bouwers 