Shinto and society

thumb|250px|Hatsumōde at Daishō-ji (Inuyama)|Daishō-ji in [[Inuyama, Aichi]] is one of the major Japanese traditions of the new year, which is the first visit to a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine of the Japanese New Year. Typically taking place on the first, second, or third day of the year, it is meant to bring a fresh start to the year. Hatsumōde is written with two kanji: the former means “first” and the latter means “visiting a shrine or temple.”

is the Japanese term for a state of pollution and defilement, important particularly in Shinto as a religious term. Typical causes of kegare are the contact with any form of death, childbirth (for both parents), disease, and menstruation, and acts such as rape. In Shinto, kegare is a form of tsumi (taboo violation), which needs to be somehow remedied by the person responsible. This condition can be remedied through purification rites called misogi and harae. Kegare can have an adverse impact not only on the person directly affected, but also to the community they belong to.

is a Japanese word that indicates the violation of legal, social or religious rules. It is most often used in the religious and moral sense. Originally, the word indicated a divine punishment due to the violation of a divine taboo through evil deeds, defilement (kegare) or disasters. When translated in English as "sin", the term covers therefore only one of the three meanings of the Japanese word.