Stamp collecting in secular Japan leads people to temple

(5 Oct 2023)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4456768

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tokyo – 17 August 2023 
1. Tilt down of Tokyo skyline 

HEADLINE: Stamp collecting in secular Japan leads people to temple

ASSOCIATED PRESS 
Tokyo – 18 September 2023 
2. Various of shrine maiden stamping ‘goshuin’ for a visitor 
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3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese), Karin Kodashima, priest at Onoterusaki shrine: 
“When you pray at a shrine, you are asking the gods to join hands with you to form a bond with them, and so the goshuin stamp, which includes the date, is like a proof of that bond.” 
4. Various of visitors purchasing goshuin stamps at the office of Onoterusaki shrine in Tokyo 
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5. SOUNDBITE (Japanese), Karin Kodashima, priest at Onoterusaki shrine: 
“There are special editions of goshuin stamps, reflecting on seasons for example -- such colorful themes get people started into collecting.” 
6. Shrine maiden writing calligraphy for goshuin stamp 
7. Visitor ordering goshuin 
8. Various of shrine maidens preparing goshuin stamps, special edition 

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tokyo – 8 August 2023 
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9. SOUNDBITE (Japanese), Ryosuke Okamoto, a religion professor at Hokkaido University: 
“In Japan, faith is not considered an important element of religion, unlike Christianity or Islam, in which understanding of the Bible or the Quran is necessary and the theology serves as a guidepost for daily life. Faith in Japan doesn’t exist in that way.” 
 
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tokyo – 30 August 2023 
10. Various of people praying at Sakurajingu shrine 

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tokyo – 8 August 2023 
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11. SOUNDBITE (Japanese), Ryosuke Okamoto, a religion professor at Hokkaido University: 
“They focus on religious practices such as festivals and worship services. That is a big difference from Christianity.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tokyo – 18 September 2023 
12. Shrine maidens serve visitors 
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13. SOUNDBITE (Japanese), Karin Kodashima, priest at Onoterusaki shrine: 
"Shrines serve as a place of tranquility and peace, where you place your hands together in front of the gods and calm your mind. I believe shrines will continue to be part of people’s daily lives in that way."
14. Kodashima walking inside shrine premise  
15. Visitors at Onoterusaki shrine 

ANNOTATION: In Japan, 70% of the population is nonreligious

16. Visitor praying at Onoterusaki shrine 

ANNOTATION: However, through goshuin stamp collecting families and communities stay connected to traditional religions.

17. Various of Masami Takeda showing her special edition goshuin she bought at Onoterusaki shrine 
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18. SOUNDBITE (Japanese), Masami Takeda, a visitor at Onotesrusaki shrine, goshuin stamp collector: 
“I have at least a thousand of them. Every time I spot a cute stamp, I go on a shrine-hopping.” 
19. Takeda and her grandson outside shrine office 
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20. SOUNDBITE (Japanese), Masami Takeda, a visitor at Onotesrusaki shrine, goshuin stamp collector: 
“(When I go to the shrines) I pray for the health for my grandson.” 

ASSOCIATED PRESS 
Tokyo – 17 August 2023 
21. Ryo Yoshida working on his laptop with the backdrop of Tokyo skyline 
22. Yoshida working on his laptop
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23. SOUNDBITE (Japanese), Ryo Yoshida, creator of online information sites “Hotokami” for shrines and temples: 
24. Tilt up of Ryo Yoshida, creator of online information sites “Hotokami”, during an interview 
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26. Various of Yoshida during interview 

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tokyo – 30 August 2023 
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