When I was listening to the EX audio data, I encountered the words “atheist” and “polytheist,” which led me to begin contemplating Japanese people’s stance toward religion. Japanese people typically do not believe in specific gods; however, I realized that this does not necessarily mean they are atheists. Traditionally, Japanese culture deems inanimate objects to be vessels for deities, as seen in the saying that a single grain of rice houses seven gods. This concept serves primarily as a means of instilling discipline in young children, and as people grow up, many tend to disregard this lesson. Therefore, I concluded that Japanese people are neither strict atheists nor polytheists. Instead, people simply utilize a religious framework to promote better child development, making it a temporary educational process for many.
