One of the series I anticipated most going into the summer season was Kamisama Dolls, which looked as if it could have a great balance of action, sci-fi, romance, and even religion. I enjoyed the first couple of episodes, but not enough to continue with the series, and dropped it there. Others who did finish… Read More Fashioning Kamisama Dolls…and Other Gods
Labor Day is coming up – not a bad time to muse about Mawaru Penguindrum, John Lennon’s “Imagine,” and the Garden of Eden? 2DT ends his series of posts on Tokidoki Balloon with an essay about the soul of anime, using some occult and Gnostic practices to illustrate. Japanese missionary Kermit Bayless reflects on Obon,… Read More Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere: The Soul of Anime, Obon Season, and a Papal Manga
Anime is almost never a proselytizing tool. So, it’s no surprise that religion usually doesn’t take the forefront in anime series. Even when religion plays a major role, it’s typically bended and used for aesthetic or plot reasons (ex. Evangelion) by the series animators. Still, it’s ever-present in anime, as religion is deeply imbedded in the country’s culture. … Read More Anime and Religion Survey: Spirituality in Anime
Crystal White of Japanator is attending the New York Anime Festival (NYAF), and posted some interesting remarks about a session she attended. Did you know that Shinigami, translated as Death Gods, are part of the ever-present syncretism in Japanese religion? However, the idea is neither Shinto nor Buddhist: its roots are in western tradition. Read… Read More Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere: Shinigami Syncretism
Angel Beats! to Have an Epilogue News: Although I detailed this story in a past post, it’s worth mentioning again. Angel Beats!, the beautiful Key series from the summer, isn’t quite over. The final DVD release, coming out in Japan in December, will contain an epilogue. Views: The details are sparse at this point –… Read More Week in Review (Sep 25 – Oct 1)
One purpose I hope to accomplish through this blog is to help readers understand Japanese religion better. The Japanese religious system cannot be pegged in simple terms. It is also both unique to Asia and similar to other Asian religious traditions. That said, one blog I often read had a recent posting about personal practice… Read More Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere: Natsume Yuujinchou and Living with Spirits
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