Who is Worshiped at Shrines? 神社には誰が祭られているのか
Foreign Student (hereinafter FS): Most Japanese seem to visit a shrine or temple (1 in ) the New Year. Are the Japanese that religious?
留学生（以下、留）：正月にはほとんどの日本人が神社やお寺に初詣に出かけるようですが、日本人はそんなに信心深いのですか。
Teacher (hereinafter T): Though people usher (2 in ) the New Year by making wishes at a shrine or temple, (3 for ) the majority this is a New Year’s event, rather than something religious.
先生（以下、先）：新年を迎えるにあたり神社やお寺に願い事をしますが、大多数の人にとっては宗教上というより、新年のイベントです
FS: I understand that temples are Buddhist, but who is worshiped (4 at ) a shrine?
留：お寺は仏教とわかりますが、神社は誰を祭っているのですか。
T: Shrines are Shinto buildings where deities are worshipped; these range (5 from ) the Sun god to the spirits of impressive natural features such as mountains, rivers, rocks, and forests, to animals, and even great human beings – anything that inspires awe or a sense (6 of ) mystery in human beings.
先：神社は神道の建物で、神様が祭られています。太陽から、人間にとって恐れ多い、あるいは神秘的に感じられる山、川、岩、森などの大自然さらに動物、また偉大な人物さえ含まれています。
The population of Japan is (7 about ) 130 million, and it is said that over 90 million people visit temples or shrines.
日本の人口は約1億3千万人ですが、9千万人以上が参拝するといわれています。
FS: Are there any Shinto shrines (8 in ) Tokyo where humans are honored?
留：人間が神とされる神社は東京にもあるのですか。
T: Of course. The most famous (9 of ) these is the Meiji Shrine near Harajuku Station. With more than three million visitors in the New Year (10 each ) year, it is the most popular shrine in Japan
先：もちろんあります。一番有名なのは原宿駅近くにある明治神宮です。初詣の参拝者は毎年300万人以上で、日本最多です。
Worshiped here is the Emperor Meiji – the symbol of the Meiji Restoration that led Japan (11 to ) modernize. Togo Shrine is also located nearby
ここに祭られているのは、日本を近代化へ導いた明治維新の象徴となった明治天皇です。近くには東郷神社もあります。
There Admiral Togo is deified. Admiral Heihachiro Togo surprised the world (12 by ) defeating the Russian Baltic fleet – at that time the world’s most powerful naval force – (13 at ) the Sea of Japan Naval Battle.
そこには東郷提督が祭られています。東郷平八郎提督は当時、世界屈指の海軍といわれたロシアのバルチック艦隊を日本海海戦で破り、世界を驚かせました。
He was revered (14 as ) a hero just like British admiral Horatio Nelson – who defeated the allied forces of France and Spain (15 at ) the Battle of Trafalgar.
トラファルガー海戦でフランス・スペインの連合軍を破ったイギリスのホレーショ・ネルソン提督のように英雄として崇められました。
FS: Are there any other such shrines (16 in ) Tokyo?
留：東京には他にそのような神社はありますか。
T: The Nogi Shrine is located (17 in ) Akasaka. Commander NOGI Maresuke – who like Togo led Japan (18 to ) victory in the Russo-Japan war – is honored here.
先：赤坂には乃木神社があります。東郷と同じく日露戦争で日本を勝利に導いた乃木希典司令官が祭られています。
The battle of 203-Meter Heights (19 on ) a hill above Port Arthur – Russia’s most strategically important military base – was fierce.
ロシアの最大の軍事拠点、旅順港を見下ろす二百三高地の戦いは壮絶でした。
He impressed the people of the world (20 by ) not disgracing his vanquished foe Russian General Anatoly Stoessel in accordance with the bushido code (21 of ) honor.
敗者となったロシアのステッセル将軍を辱めることなく、武士道精神でもてなし世界の人々を感動させました。
By killing himself and his wife (22 after ) the death of the Emperor Meiji, he is also known (23 for ) being a loyal retainer.
明治天皇の死後、妻と共に命を絶った忠臣としても知られます。
FS: Every time ministers visit Yasukuni Shrine, it sparks an international controversy. Who is honored there?
留：閣僚が参拝するたびに国際的な論争になる靖国神社は誰を祭っているのですか。
T: This shrine was built to enshrine dead soldiers (24 from ) the Boshin War and other wars that took place (25 during ) the Meiji Restoration, later however, those who died defending the nation were also included.
先：明治維新に至る過程で戊辰戦争などの戦死者を祭るためにつくられましたが、その後は国を守るために亡くなった人も加えられました。
Soldiers who died (26 in ) the Second World War were also prayed for. It was considered to be an honor to be enshrined here, even though the government used this to boost public support ( 27 for ) the war effort.
第二次世界大戦で亡くなった兵士も祭られました。靖国神社に祭られることは栄誉とされましたが、政府が戦意高揚のために利用した側面もあります。
As Prime Minister Hideki Tojo and others who were condemned as class A war criminals (28 at ) the Tokyo Trial were also enshrined later on, China and Korea – countries that had suffered in the war – raised their objections (29 to ) this.
後に東京裁判でA 級戦犯とされた東条英機総理大臣なども祭られたことから、被害国である中国、韓国から批判が起こりました。
(30 On ) the other hand, there are members of congress and other people who say that visiting the shrine is an internal issue and a question (31 of ) personal choice, and that it is only natural that the nation and its citizens display respect (32 for ) those who died for their country.
一方で、参拝は国内問題であると共に個人の問題とし、国のために亡くなった人に国家や国民が敬意を表するのは当然だと主張する議員や人もいます。
Putting this (33 into ) context is the Japanese view of life and death; that the dead cannot be blamed (34 after ) they pass away.
この背景には、死んでしまえばそれ以上は問わない日本人の死生観があります。
In any case, you might say that the New Year’s visit to a shrine or temple is an important event that reflects Japanese polytheistic religious beliefs.
いずれにしても、初詣は日本人の多神教の宗教観を反映している一大行事といえるでしょう。
Foreign Student (hereinafter FS): Most Japanese seem to visit a shrine or temple (1 in ) the New Year. Are the Japanese that religious?
留学生（以下、留）：正月にはほとんどの日本人が神社やお寺に初詣に出かけるようですが、日本人はそんなに信心深いのですか。
Teacher (hereinafter T): Though people usher (2 in ) the New Year by making wishes at a shrine or temple, (3 for ) the majority this is a New Year’s event, rather than something religious.
先生（以下、先）：新年を迎えるにあたり神社やお寺に願い事をしますが、大多数の人にとっては宗教上というより、新年のイベントです
FS: I understand that temples are Buddhist, but who is worshiped (4 at ) a shrine?
留：お寺は仏教とわかりますが、神社は誰を祭っているのですか。
T: Shrines are Shinto buildings where deities are worshipped; these range (5 from ) the Sun god to the spirits of impressive natural features such as mountains, rivers, rocks, and forests, to animals, and even great human beings – anything that inspires awe or a sense (6 of ) mystery in human beings.
先：神社は神道の建物で、神様が祭られています。太陽から、人間にとって恐れ多い、あるいは神秘的に感じられる山、川、岩、森などの大自然さらに動物、また偉大な人物さえ含まれています。
The population of Japan is (7 about ) 130 million, and it is said that over 90 million people visit temples or shrines.
日本の人口は約1億3千万人ですが、9千万人以上が参拝するといわれています。
FS: Are there any Shinto shrines (8 in ) Tokyo where humans are honored?
留：人間が神とされる神社は東京にもあるのですか。
T: Of course. The most famous (9 of ) these is the Meiji Shrine near Harajuku Station. With more than three million visitors in the New Year (10 each ) year, it is the most popular shrine in Japan
先：もちろんあります。一番有名なのは原宿駅近くにある明治神宮です。初詣の参拝者は毎年300万人以上で、日本最多です。
Worshiped here is the Emperor Meiji – the symbol of the Meiji Restoration that led Japan (11 to ) modernize. Togo Shrine is also located nearby
ここに祭られているのは、日本を近代化へ導いた明治維新の象徴となった明治天皇です。近くには東郷神社もあります。
There Admiral Togo is deified. Admiral Heihachiro Togo surprised the world (12 by ) defeating the Russian Baltic fleet – at that time the world’s most powerful naval force – (13 at ) the Sea of Japan Naval Battle.
そこには東郷提督が祭られています。東郷平八郎提督は当時、世界屈指の海軍といわれたロシアのバルチック艦隊を日本海海戦で破り、世界を驚かせました。
He was revered (14 as ) a hero just like British admiral Horatio Nelson – who defeated the allied forces of France and Spain (15 at ) the Battle of Trafalgar.
トラファルガー海戦でフランス・スペインの連合軍を破ったイギリスのホレーショ・ネルソン提督のように英雄として崇められました。
FS: Are there any other such shrines (16 in ) Tokyo?
留：東京には他にそのような神社はありますか。
T: The Nogi Shrine is located (17 in ) Akasaka. Commander NOGI Maresuke – who like Togo led Japan (18 to ) victory in the Russo-Japan war – is honored here.
先：赤坂には乃木神社があります。東郷と同じく日露戦争で日本を勝利に導いた乃木希典司令官が祭られています。
The battle of 203-Meter Heights (19 on ) a hill above Port Arthur – Russia’s most strategically important military base – was fierce.
ロシアの最大の軍事拠点、旅順港を見下ろす二百三高地の戦いは壮絶でした。
He impressed the people of the world (20 by ) not disgracing his vanquished foe Russian General Anatoly Stoessel in accordance with the bushido code (21 of ) honor.
敗者となったロシアのステッセル将軍を辱めることなく、武士道精神でもてなし世界の人々を感動させました。
By killing himself and his wife (22 after ) the death of the Emperor Meiji, he is also known (23 for ) being a loyal retainer.
明治天皇の死後、妻と共に命を絶った忠臣としても知られます。
FS: Every time ministers visit Yasukuni Shrine, it sparks an international controversy. Who is honored there?
留：閣僚が参拝するたびに国際的な論争になる靖国神社は誰を祭っているのですか。
T: This shrine was built to enshrine dead soldiers (24 from ) the Boshin War and other wars that took place (25 during ) the Meiji Restoration, later however, those who died defending the nation were also included.
先：明治維新に至る過程で戊辰戦争などの戦死者を祭るためにつくられましたが、その後は国を守るために亡くなった人も加えられました。
Soldiers who died (26 in ) the Second World War were also prayed for. It was considered to be an honor to be enshrined here, even though the government used this to boost public support ( 27 for ) the war effort.
第二次世界大戦で亡くなった兵士も祭られました。靖国神社に祭られることは栄誉とされましたが、政府が戦意高揚のために利用した側面もあります。
As Prime Minister Hideki Tojo and others who were condemned as class A war criminals (28 at ) the Tokyo Trial were also enshrined later on, China and Korea – countries that had suffered in the war – raised their objections (29 to ) this.
後に東京裁判でA 級戦犯とされた東条英機総理大臣なども祭られたことから、被害国である中国、韓国から批判が起こりました。
(30 On ) the other hand, there are members of congress and other people who say that visiting the shrine is an internal issue and a question (31 of ) personal choice, and that it is only natural that the nation and its citizens display respect (32 for ) those who died for their country.
一方で、参拝は国内問題であると共に個人の問題とし、国のために亡くなった人に国家や国民が敬意を表するのは当然だと主張する議員や人もいます。
Putting this (33 into ) context is the Japanese view of life and death; that the dead cannot be blamed (34 after ) they pass away.
この背景には、死んでしまえばそれ以上は問わない日本人の死生観があります。
In any case, you might say that the New Year’s visit to a shrine or temple is an important event that reflects Japanese polytheistic religious beliefs.
いずれにしても、初詣は日本人の多神教の宗教観を反映している一大行事といえるでしょう。
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