[Olog-hai]

If it were so, no jinja would be in operation.

Japanese media still is saturated with their mythology, whether it be yokai, oni, yoma or other monsters, including the divine personages that keep them in their place. They aren’t areligious socialists, as dangerous as that is in and of itself.

[OldGoatCPO]

I lived there for years and have family there. They have superstitions that originated long ago, like the belief that foxes can bewitch you. There is still a festival to pacify the Tengu, but nobody believes they live in the mountains and teach swordsmanship. Tengu are more widely known in Japan amongst young people as a Manga character. We have similar beliefs and customs that have long ago lost their meaning. We have superstitions that our fore bearers believed to be fact. Don't step on a crack, don't spill salt etc.... Even our western religious practices have a lot of folklore attached to them.