Shinto is kinda like if pagan rituals in Europe had been allowed to grow alongside Christianity rather than being wiped out. It's a nativist religion, and an animist religion. It's also considered by many Japanese people to not be a religion, despite it totally being one. Shinto shrines are cool as hell. It's a very long history, but to very briefly summarize, in Shinto certain trees, rocks, and other things are said to be little gods themselves and are worshiped as such. You go to the tree shrine to pray for success on entrance exams, the love shrine to pray for success in love, etc. Shinto has also been used by nationalists and one core component of Shinto is that the Emperor is supposedly a descendant of the most powerful god, Amaterasu. You can see how this might create problems and lead to catastrophic events like for example, WWII.
Shinto is kinda like if pagan rituals in Europe had been allowed to grow alongside Christianity rather than being wiped out. It's a nativist religion, and an animist religion. It's also considered by many Japanese people to not be a religion, despite it totally being one. Shinto shrines are cool as hell. It's a very long history, but to very briefly summarize, in Shinto certain trees, rocks, and other things are said to be little gods themselves and are worshiped as such. You go to the tree shrine to pray for success on entrance exams, the love shrine to pray for success in love, etc. Shinto has also been used by nationalists and one core component of Shinto is that the Emperor is supposedly a descendant of the most powerful god, Amaterasu. You can see how this might create problems and lead to catastrophic events like for example, WWII.