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Japanese Chips Grabber
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Religion
The highest estimates suggest that 84–96 percent of the Japanese population are Buddhists or Shintoists, including a large number of believers in a syncretism of both religions. However, these estimates are based on people associated with a temple, rather than the number of people truly following the religion. Professor Robert Kisala (Nanzan University) suggests that only 30 percent of the population identify themselves as belonging to a religion. Taoism and Confucianism from China have also influenced Japanese beliefs and customs. Religion in Japan tends to be syncretic in nature, resulting in a variety of practices, such as parents and children celebrating Shinto rituals, students praying before exams, couples holding a wedding at a Christian church, and funerals being held at Buddhist temples. According to the CIA World Fact Book, two percent of Japanese are Christian (2.4 million). In addition, since the mid-19th century, numerous religious sects (Shinshūkyō) have emerged in Japan.
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