Articles by "Sacred & Taboo"

This section explores sacred beliefs, ritual purity, and cultural taboos in Japan.
Topics include concepts such as kegare, sacred mountains, and traditional attitudes toward death, illustrating how religion and social customs shape everyday life.

  • Sacred & Taboo
Sacred and Forbidden in Japan: How Boundaries Shape Cultural Order
Sacred and forbidden are often understood as matters of belief or moral judgment. In Japan, however…
  • Sacred & Taboo
Death and Avoidance in Japan: How Distance Shapes Death Practices
Death is not always confronted directly. In Japan, it is often approached through distance—managed …
  • Sacred & Taboo
Blood, Impurity, and Boundaries: The Cultural Logic of Kegare in Japan
Kegare (穢れ) is often translated as “impurity,” but this translation can be misleading. It does no…