Some Shinto devotees are apparently unhappy with DMM’s latest anthropomorphism title “Yashiro ni Hoheto”, bemoaning its shrines-as-anime-cuties theme as a religious affront of some sort or another.
The game transforms real world Shinto shrines into stylishly dressed Miko-girls that players can collect; however, the problem that more religious individuals seem to have with the title is the fact that each girl has an associated “fortune” (a tribute to the fortune-telling commonly offered by such shrines), which can range from good to bad and has caused many to regard the game as an insult.
So “offensive” has this detail proven that the Iwashimizu Hachimangu shrine in Kyoto is demanding that their shrine be removed from the trivial game – the previously released PV for Yashiro ni Hoheto:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NBgPgM9g50
Katsuji Iwahashi, the head of International Foreign Relations at the Association of Shinto Shrines, has also shown disapproval over the browser game, believing that the shrines are being misrepresented with a shallow understanding of the religion, additionally mentioning that fortunes offered at shrines are more subtle than being simply “good or bad” and that the game has drastically oversimplified them.
DMM have responded to the controversy by shockingly revealing that the shrine girls have no relation to their real-life counterparts and that the game is fictional, which depending on the stance adopted may be taken either as a transparent attempt to defend their profiteering off the ancient and sovereign kamigami and their associated enshrinements, or a reasonable defense of their creative efforts with the common cultural properties of the nation.
Even though Japan has made anthropomorphizations of various inanimate objects, from swords to castles and even fecal bacteria, shrines probably differ in having a host of very serious and solemn organizations built up around them, to say nothing of the role of religion in incensing believers against common cartoons.
Our descendants (if we make it that far) will look back on this century as the Age of The Offended.
Don’t see the problem with this. The various shrines have the right to ask to be removed due to “trademark” infringement.
The five or six major religions gets greatly villified, falsely portrayed, or blasphemous treated in various popular anime or manga series, even other polytheisms are not safe.
While Shintoism gets a free pass or positive spin in most series where any hint of religion are hinted or protrayed.
The only exception is pure atheism. It is as if the only positive beliefs are either Shinto or pure atheism.
It is thanks to anime and manga that Shintoism is able to have a positive spin outside of Japan, so it is up to the various shrines to decide if they want to be a part of this or not.
kami in Shinto belief are similar to Greek mythology in that the dieties require human believers to remain dieties.
God resides in everything.
I hope this game blows up so we can get them doujins because shrine maidens are super my fetish.
i’m waiting for the anime…
It’s 2017 already. How is religion still a thing.
Religion appeals to people who seek meaning/definition, guidance, purpose, sense of belonging, confidence/security, perceived superiority, etc, ec.
Religion will still be a thing until people no longer need those things. Which will probably never happen.
Well, Haruhism certainly isn’t a thing anymore.
I recently converted from Atheism to the Basillicom of Planeptune.
Because religion is a tool (and everyone needs something to believe in). A tool itself is never evil nor good. It’s in how the wielder uses the tool. (Yes, I realize this the same argument uses for firearms. Honestly, same s♥♥t, except religion has neither material costs nor background checks required.)
I don’t believe in organized religion myself (to many abuses of it.) I’m more an agnostic atheist: I don’t believe in any real “god(s)”, but science hasn’t revealed all the answers to the universe yet. I’ll personify those unknown for convenience and fun. Nonsensical, sure, but people use religion in nonsensical ways all the damn time. Also, it’s a way to have an anime character pantheon. (Church of Belldandy! Haruhiism is a bit too chaotic for me…)
Why would everyone need to believe in something? I don’t.
Well, Shintoism is basically a heritage for Japan, just as Roman Christianity is a hit in Rome (Vatican). As much as you can dismiss and tell people to grow out of it, you can’t take the heritage out of culture, for that will destroy said culture completely.
the angry ones are the guys whose shrines bring bad luck in the game