Jinja Honcho

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  • Jinja Honcho

Today, there are about 80,000 Shinto jinja in Japan.
Every jinja venerates its own kami, and reverently performs its own matsuri.

Jinja Honcho is an organisation that brings together the overwhelming majority of those jinja.
It works to preserve and pass on Japan’s traditional culture,
primarily the religious tradition of Jinja Shinto,
by guiding and supporting the jinja that are its members.

Goals of Jinja
Honcho’s
Activities

  1. 1.Offer guidance on the management of member jinja.
  2. 2.Preserve traditional Shinto rituals and festivals, and promote traditional customs.
  3. 3.Pray for the further development of a rich Japanese culture and society.
  4. 4.Contribute to the establishment of lasting peace throughout the world.

Main Activities

Unlike many other religions, Shinto does not have a unified doctrine or scriptures.
Jinja Honcho carries out the following activities in the spirit of venerating the kami and honouring our ancestors.

  • Publicising Shinto and jinja.

  • Performing Shinto matsuri (rituals).

  • Providing material to educate the adherents of member jinja.

  • Encouraging the veneration of Ise Jingu and distributing Jingu Taima.

  • Providing initial and life-long training for Shinto priests.

  • Publishing and distributing books and leaflets about Shinto and jinja.

We see it as our duty to spread an accurate understanding of Shinto and support jinja through these activities.
Jinja Honcho oversees a Jinjacho in each Japanese prefecture, and these serve as local offices. Jinjacho not only see to administrative matters for the jinja in their prefecture, but also work to promote their activities and traditions.

The History of Jinja Honcho

Jinja Honcho was founded in February 1946 as the common decision of almost all jinja in Japan.

Under the new governmental structure of Japan created by the Meiji government in the late nineteenth century, jinja were established as state facilities honoured by the nation. However, after the Second World War, jinja were legally separated from the state, and had to make a new start as non-state organisations. In response to this change, Jinja Honcho was set up in order to preserve the religious traditions of Japan. From its foundation, it has respected the independence of every jinja in Japan. We see ourselves as a voluntary union formed by 80,000 jinja across Japan acting as independent bodies.