Japanese-English Photo Glossary Index

kamidana Listen to the term in Japanese!

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Kamidana in guest room at host family's house, Hirose
Photo by Linda Freeman, July 12, 2003

shelf in the home for the Shinto shrine

The literal translation of kamidana is "god shelf." This household shrine is located in the tatami room (guest room). Every morning the gods are fed cooked rice because "all kami must be nourished if they are to perform at peak efficiency."

Shinto
C. Scott Littleton

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