Skip to content

Mimusubi Essays on Shinto

Each of these “books” combines two (or three) of my essays, so that the pricing works with Amazon’s restrictions. This means that each individual essay is short — only about 10,000 words. They are listed here in the order that they were published.

Myths of Izumo

Izumo Myths I (June 2019)
The first part of the myths of Izumo, including Susano’o and the Dragon, and the trials of Ōkuninushi. This essay is available on Amazon in Myths of Izumo.
Izumo Myths II (July 2019)
The second part of the myths of Izumo, including Ōkuninushi and Sukunabikona, and the transfer of rulership to the ancestors of the Tennō. This essay is available on Amazon in Myths of Izumo.

The Daijōsai

The Ritual of the Daijōsai (October 2019)
The Daijōsai is an ancient Shinto ritual performed at the accession of a new Tennō. This essay describes what actually happens, as far as is generally known. This essay is available on Amazon in The Daijōsai.
The Meaning of the Daijōsai (November 2019)
The ritual of the Daijōsai is believed to have great significance, but there is considerable debate over what, precisely, it signifies. This essay discusses the most important suggestions. This essay is available on Amazon in The Daijōsai.

Two Izumo Jinja

Izumo Ōyashiro (September 2019)
One of the oldest and most important jinja in Japan, with a line of high priests that claims descent from Amaterasu Ōmikami. This essay is available on Amazon in Izumo Ōyashiro and Miho Jinja
Miho Jinja (January 2020)
A jinja in the ancient province of Izumo (modern Shimanë prefecture) that hosts some ancient and distinctive matsuri. This essay is available on Amazon in Izumo Ōyashiro and Miho Jinja.

Two Norito

Ōharaëkotoba (January 2019)
A transcription, translation, and basic commentary for the most important Shinto prayer (norito). This essay is available on Amazon in Ōharaëkotoba and Izumo Yogoto.
The Izumo Yogoto (December 2019)
An ancient norito, recited before the Tennō by the Izumo Kokusō, the chief priest of Izumo Ōyashiro, when he took up his role. The content sheds light on ancient forms of Shinto ritual, and the Izumo traditions about the kami. This essay is available on Amazon in Ōharaëkotoba and Izumo Yogoto.

Shinto Practice for Non-Japanese

Shinto for Non-Japanese (March 2020)
Is it all right for non-Japanese people to practise Shinto? (Yes) And how can they do it? (That’s a bit more complicated.) This essay is available on Gumroad as an individual essay, and on Amazon in Shinto Practice for Non-Japanese.
Practising Shinto Outside Japan (September 2020)
A companion piece to Shinto for Non-Japanese, focusing on the practical things one can do to practise Shinto outside Japan. This essay is available on Gumroad as an individual essay, and on Amazon in Shinto Practice for Non-Japanese.

Imperial Origin Myths

Descent from the Heavens (April 2020)
Further Shinto myths, concerning the descent of the ancestor of the Tennō from the heavens to found the imperial line. This essay is available on Amazon in Imperial Origin Myths.
The Hyūga Generations (July 2020)
The myths told about the ancestors of the Tennō from the period when they lived in Kyushu, before moving to central Japan. This essay is available on Amazon in Imperial Origin Myths.

Offerings for the Kami

Shinsen (August 2018)
The food and drink offered to the kami, both the standard offerings found at all jinja, and some examples of special offerings unique to a particular matsuri. Part of this essay is included in An Introduction to Shinto, my book, which is available on Amazon and Gumroad. The entire essay is available on Amazon in Offerings for the Kami.
Kagura (December 2018)
The sacred music and dance of Shinto ceremonies. Part of this essay is included in An Introduction to Shinto, my book, which is available on Amazon and Gumroad. The entire essay is available on Amazon in Offerings for the Kami.

Explaining Shinto

Shinto Without Essence (August 2020)
An explanation of why it is so hard to define Shinto, to say when it started, and distinguish things that are Shinto from things that are not. This essay is available on Amazon in Explaining Shinto.
Translating Shinto (December 2020)
Many words used in Shinto are difficult to translate into English. This essay explains why, and gives examples of words that are hard to translate, with a discussion of how I handle the problem. This essay is available on Amazon in Explaining Shinto.

Myths of Jinmu Tennō

Jinmu’s Journey (November 2020)
The myths telling the story of the journey of Jinmu, the first Tennō, from Kyushu to Yamato, in central Japan. This includes the story of Yata-no-Karasu, the crow sent to guide Jinmu through the mountains of Kumano. This essay is available in Amazon in Myths of Jinmu Tennō.
The Conquest of Yamato (January 2021)
The myths of Jinmu’s conquest of Yamato, which include some valuable descriptions of early Shinto rituals. This essay is available in Amazon in Myths of Jinmu Tennō.

Myths of Creation and Amaterasu

Shinto Myths (June 2018)
A general discussion of the role of myths in Shinto, and the main sources for them, together with a description of the creation myths found in the central texts. A small part of this essay is included in An Introduction to Shinto, my book, which is available on Amazon and Gumroad. The whole essay is available in Myths of Creation and Amaterasu, on Amazon.
Myths of Amaterasu (February 2019)
A description of the myths of Amaterasu as found in the oldest sources for Japanese mythology, with some discussion of the significance of the events and the differences between the versions. Part of this essay is included in An Introduction to Shinto, my book, which is available on Amazon and Gumroad. The whole essay is available in Myths of Creation and Amaterasu, on Amazon.

Myths of the First Emperors

The Accession of Jinmu Tennō (March 2021)
After Kamuyamatoiwarëbiko had conquered the Yamato region of Japan, he became the first Tennō, Jinmu. The legends tell interesting stories about his wife, and about the rituals that were performed at his palace. This essay is available on Gumroad individually, and on Amazon as part of Myths of the First Emperors.
Myths of Sujin Tennō (May 2021)
In the traditional list, Sujin Tennō is the tenth Tennō, although he has a title that means “First Tennō to Rule the Country”. The myths of his reign have a lot to say about the kami and Shinto rituals, on topics including including sacred marriages, oracles, and sacred treasures. This essay is available on Gumroad individually, and on Amazon as part of Myths of the First Emperors.

The Early History of Shinto

The Archaeology of Shinto (April 2021)
The written history of Shinto starts in the early eighth century, but there is reason to think that the practice goes back to the fourth century. This essay introduces some of the most important archaeological evidence for that. It is available on Gumroad individually, and on Amazon as part of The Early History of Shinto.
Early Matsuri (June 2021)
What were the earliest Shinto rituals, “matsuri”, like? Shinto seems to have begun around the fourth century, and developed in the fifth century. Around the turn of the eighth century, there is evidence for major changes in the Shinto rituals performed by the Japanese state, which in turn influenced other matsuri. So, the question for this essay is what we can say about matsuri between the fourth and seventh centuries. All of our written sources are from the eighth century or later, but there are reasons to think that some of them provide information about earlier practices. This essay looks at the evidence and what can be said. It is available for purchase on Gumroad individually, and on Amazon as part of The Early History of Shinto.

Suinin Tennō and Yamato Takeru

Myths of Suinin Tennō (July 2021)
During the reign of Suinin Tennō, the son and heir of Sujin Tennō, there are myths concerning the foundation of Jingū at Isë, the use of divination to find the cause of and cure for an Imperial prince’s situation, and a prince from the mainland who brought sacred treasures and became the ancestor of a Tennō. This essay retells and discusses them. It is available for purchase on Gumroad individually, and on Amazon as part of Suinin Tennō and Yamato Takeru.
Yamato Takeru (September 2021)
Yamato Takeru was the son of one Tennō and the father of another, but not a Tennō himself, at least not in the central myths. There are many stories about him, and while they are individually interesting, there are a lot of mysteries about them, and about how they fit together. This essay retells these myths, with some commentary. It is available for purchase on Gumroad individually, and on Amazon as part of Suinin Tennō and Yamato Takeru.

Myths of Okinagatarashihimë

Oracles of Okinagatarashihimë (December 2021)
Okinagatarashihimë is a very significant figure in the earliest recorded Shinto myths. She ruled Japan for almost 70 years, and is venerated as one of the Hachiman kami and one of the Sumiyoshi kami even today. Nevertheless, she is little known even in Japan. This essay recounts the first half of the legends about her. It is available for purchase on Gumroad individually, and on Amazon as part of Myths of Okinagatarashihimë.
Conquests of Okinagatarashihimë (January 2022)
This essay concludes the legends of Okinagatarashihimë, a shaman-queen of ancient Japan who may be based on a historical figure recorded in Chinese documents. In these legends, she conquers the Korean peninsula with the aid of the kami and enshrines those kami at several jinja, all of which remain important today. Her independence from any male figures, and her association with northern Kyushu and with water, raise interesting questions about the origins of her myths. It is available for purchase on Gumroad individually, and on Amazon as part of Myths of Okinagatarashihimë.

Shinto Liturgy

Ritual Movements in Shinto (February 2022)
The movements to be made during Shinto rituals are specified in great detail, from precisely how deeply to bow to which foot to move first when you start to move. Learning to do them naturally is an important part of priestly training. This essay describes the principles behind the rules, and some of the specific rules, to give an idea of how priests move during a matsuri. It is available for purchase on Gumroad individually, and on Amazon as part of Shinto Liturgy.
Shinto Liturgy (March 2022)
The structure of a Shinto matsuri is defined in as much detail as the movements, from the place where the chief priest should sit to the order in which people should enter the ritual space. This essay describes the actions for a standard Shinto matsuri, as performed at a jinja that is affiliated to Jinja Honchō. It is available for purchase on Gumroad individually, and on Amazon as part of Shinto Liturgy.

Myths from the Izumo Fudoki

Myths from the Izumo Fudoki (August 2019)
Some of the myths included in the Izumo Fudoki, an eighth-century text describing the province of Izumo in western Japan (modern Shimanë Prefecture). This essay is available on Gumroad individually, and on Amazon as part of Myths from the Izumo Fudoki.
More Myths from the Izumo Fudoki (July 2022)
The Izumo-no-Kuni Fudoki is a gazeteer of the province of Izumo, compiled by imperial order in the early eighth century. This essay is my second collection of myths from that volume, covering the remaining major myths, notes on common features of mentions of the kami, and a discussion of the list of jinja. It is available for purchase on Gumroad individually, and on Amazon as part of Myths from the Izumo Fudoki.

Myths from the Hitachi Fudoki

Myths from the Hitachi Fudoki Part One (August 2022)
The Hitachi-no-Kuni Fudoki is a gazetteer of the province of Hitachi, modern Ibaraki Prefecture, in the early eighth century. It contains a substantial number of myths from the area, and this essay, the first of two, covers myths about the kami of Kashima Jingū, the kami of Mt Fuji and Mt Tsukuba, two lovers who transform, and a kami associated with weaving. It is available for purchase on Gumroad and on Amazon as part of Myths from the Hitachi Fudoki.
Myths from the Hitachi Fudoki Part Two (September 2022)
The Hitachi-no-Kuni Fudoki is a gazetteer of the province of Hitachi, modern Ibaraki Prefecture, in the early eighth century. It contains a substantial number of myths from the area, and this essay, the second of two, covers myths about conflicts with kami, a child of a kami in the form of a snake, local legends about Yamato Takeru, and a handful of shorter tales. It is available for purchase on Gumroad and on Amazon as part of Myths from the Hitachi Fudoki.

Shinto on Ethics and Death

Shinto Ethics (February 2021)
Although ethics is not a central concern of Shinto, priests and the Shinto establishment do have something to say about it. This essay collects what I have been able to gather about their ethical positions from their public statements and actions. It is available on Gumroad and on Amazon as part of Shinto on Ethics and Death.
Shinto, Death, and the Afterlife (October 2022)
Shinto has much less to say about death and the afterlife than many people might expect of a religion, but that does not mean that it says nothing. Similarly, most people in Japan have Buddhist funerals and honour their ancestors with Buddhist rituals, but there are Shinto rituals for all these things. Finally, some jinja do enshrine dead people, although it makes much less difference to the practices there than you might think. This essay provides a general introduction to the topic of death in Shinto. It is available for purchase on Gumroad and on Amazon as part of Shinto on Ethics and Death.

Myths from the Harima Fudoki

Myths from the Harima Fudoki Part One (November 2022)
The Harima-no-Kuni Fudoki is a gazetteer of the province of Harima, part of modern Hyōgo Prefecture, in the early eighth century. This essay is the first of a series covering the myths found in this text, and covers the stories associated with the Imperial family, with a particular focus on stories about Okinagatarashihimë. It is available for purchase on Gumroad and on Amazon as part of Myths from the Harima Fudoki.
Myths from the Harima Fudoki Part Two (December 2022)
The Harima-no-Kuni Fudoki is a gazetteer of the province of Harima, part of modern Hyōgo Prefecture, in the early eighth century. This essay is the second of a series covering the myths found in this text, and covers the stories associated with four important kami mentioned in many locations: Ōnamuchi, Amënohiboko, Ashiharashiko’o, and Iwa Ōkami. Some of these kami may, or may not, be the same as kami mentioned in other myths. It is available for purchase on Gumroad and on Amazon as part of Myths from the Harima Fudoki.
Myths from the Harima Fudoki Part Three (January 2023)
The Harima-no-Kuni Fudoki is a gazetteer of the province of Harima, part of modern Hyōgo Prefecture, in the early eighth century. This essay is the third and last of a series covering the myths found in this text, and covers the miscellaneous stories that did not fit in the first two essays. It includes myths on the relationship between kami and immigrants, and myths in which blood plays an unusually prominent role. It is available for purchase on Gumroad and on Amazon as part of Myths from the Harima Fudoki.

Myths from the Bungo & Hizen Fudoki

Myths from the Bungo Fudoki (March 2023)
The Bungo-no-Kuni Fudoki is a gazetteer of the province of Bungo, most of modern Ōita Prefecture, in the early eighth century. Although it survives in more than fragments quoted elsewhere, the surviving text is very short, and makes surprisingly few explicit references to kami or jinja, even given its brevity. This essay recounts the myths from the text that are of most interest in a Shinto context. It is available for purchase on Gumroad and on Amazon as part of Myths from the Bungo & Hizen Fudoki.
Myths from the Hizen Fudoki (April 2023)
The Hizen-no-Kuni Fudoki is a gazetteer of the province of Hizen, covering much of modern Nagasaki and Saga Prefectures, in the early eighth century. The surviving text is quite short, but there are many references to kami, including early examples of customs that became important later, myths that have interesting parallels to other surviving tales, and brief references that suggest that many legends have been lost. It is available for purchase on Gumroad and on Amazon as part of Myths from the Bungo & Hizen Fudoki.

Shinto Portrayals in Manga

Shinto in Anime and Manga (January 2018)
The portrayal of Shinto in anime and, mainly, manga, from realistic depictions of life at a jinja to fantasy stories. It is available on Gumroad and on Amazon as part of Shinto Portrayals in Manga.
Portrayals of Kami in Manga (February 2023)
Shinto kami are not an uncommon feature of manga, as one might expect from their significance to Japanese culture in general. This essay looks at the ways they are portrayed in an unsystematic sample of eight manga series: how they are drawn, how they speak, and how they are shown as behaving. It is available for purchase on Gumroad and on Amazon as part of Shinto Portrayals in Manga.