This reference work contains over 1000 entries on Shinto, ranging from brief definitions and Japanese terms to short essays dealing with aspects of Shinto practice, belief and institutions from early times up to the present day. Shinto regards itself as the ancient indigenous tradition of Japan, yet has gone through transformations even in the 20th century. The introduction considers the problematic notion of Shinto itself, while the main body of the dictionary explains terms relating to such matters as festivals, shrines, rituals, kami, Shinto-related religious movements, significant events and key figures in the development of Shinto.