FEEL JINGU
“This is the way life ought to be.” This feeling instantly over flowed with my first steps in Japan. Every day from Tokyo, to Kyoto, Nara, Asuka Village and Niime Okayama, unfolded this epiphany: This is the way life ought to be.” Now that I think about it, much of that feeling flows like artesian wells from the kind people of Japan and the foundation of Kami-no-ichi.
Kami-no-ichi, Shinto, originated in Japan where it continues without a central authority and is characterized by diversity among its practitioners. Shinto is polytheistic revolving around kami, the spirit entities that inhabit all things in a natural world. Jinja, public shrines are staffed by Kannushi, priests who oversee the specific kami enshrined at that location.
She lived lived an invisible Shinto and Buddhist life. I didn’t realize it until years after my first 20 day journey across Japan, that though my mother never taught me about Shinto and Buddhism, the dogma, by living it with me I came to recognize it every where I traveled in Japan.
Tommie raised me to see the spirits of all things. Tamaki Patricia Ishihara, my mother was born in California. Her parents: Jotaro and Taka Ishihara were born in Okayama Japan.
