The Shinto Religion

• Kyoha Shinto (Sectarian): There are 13 sects that were founded by individual people since the beginning of the 19th century. Each sect has its own beliefs, doctrines and they worship their own central deity.
  
  
• Jinja Shinto (Shrine): This is the largest Shinto group in Japan and it is closely associated with the State Shinto in which the Emperor is revered as a living God.
  
  
• Minzoku Shinto (Folk): This group has no formal organization and it isn't a separate group. They just have certain local rituals or practices that concedes with the rural community. For example, they might place small images on the side of the road or hire one person to do the worshiping of the local deity for the community.
  
  
• Koshitsu Shinto (Imperial House Shinto): These are rituals performed by the Emperor of Japan. The constitution defines the Emperor as the “symbol of the state and the unity of the people”. One of the most important rituals is Nii-namesai in which the Emperor makes an offering to the deities of the first fruits of each year's grain harvest.

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