Maya Kamachi, 32, is a human resources specialist on assignment with a Japanese merchant bank. Currently based in Canary Wharf, she was born and raised in Kyoto. Here, she talks about what it means to follow her faith in Tower Hamlets and how her beliefs influence her daily life.
What’s the best thing about your faith?
I love the way it always helps me put a positive perspective on the world. Shinto celebrates life! I didn’t actually realise how much it influenced the way I see things until I left Japan and came to live in London. Suddenly, I was exposed to all sorts of other beliefs and religions and that helped to put Shinto in perspective. I have really learnt to value its power to enrich my life.
How close are you to other members of the Shinto community where you live?
Shinto has always been a community religion. Being a member of the Shinto community in London and being part of the Japanese community in London are really two sides of the same coin. In Japan, Shinto touches everything everybody does. In fact, it even influences the way we design our homes and furniture. In many ways, we tend to take it for granted when we’re at home. When we’re not at home, mixing with people from the same background helps us to keep in touch with our roots. More importantly, it helps us find balance and direction in our new lives.
How do your friends and colleagues react when you talk to them about your faith?
They are fascinated, particularly by the kami, which are the Shinto spirits. We have so many kami. Some people believe there are eight million, to be precise. There are good kami and bad kami and a kami for every aspect of life.
People are also fascinated to learn that I was a shrine maiden as a young girl in Japan. I used to help keep my local shrine clean and sold lucky charms during our festivals. I also helped to perform various ceremonies. I guess being a shrine maiden is rather like being an altar boy in the Christian church.
What is the biggest misunderstanding you have heard about your faith?
People tend to think that Shinto is a form of Buddhism. Over 80% of people in Japan follow both Shinto and Buddhism. They wouldn’t bother doing that if both religions were the same. One of the important things about Shinto is that it does not have a single founder, unlike Buddhism. Shinto also places great importance on living in harmony with nature, whereas you could say that Buddhism emphasises the spiritual.
What are your favourite memories of being brought up in the Shinto faith?
March 3 – Girls’ Day! For one day every year, I was treated like royalty. As part of the celebrations, my friends and I would roll a red carpet down our front stairs and display dolls representing members of the Imperial Court. My favourite was the Empress, who took the top step beside the Emperor. I always complained that my parents made me put the dolls away too quickly. The longer the dolls were on display, says tradition, the longer it would take me to get married!
