Out of this constraint came " state shinto " - the use of the faith , with its shrines and deities , for propaganda , emperor worship and the celebration of patriotism .
The majority of japanese couples today prefer white wedding dresses and western , christian-styled ceremonies -- not necessarily with any religious element -- to the more traditional shinto rituals , where they wear special kimono .
And in what represents a bit of strange casting , some economists say the answer may lie in drawing on asia 's religious traditions - shinto , taoism , buddhism and hinduism - with their emphasis on harmony with nature and self-denial .
Although rooted in shinto , the native spiritual system in japan involving nature and ancestor veneration , the kanda festival is also an occasion for japanese to show the pride they feel in their own history .
尽管发源于神道，日本的乡土精神体系中包括自然和祖先崇拜，这一节日也是日本人对自己历史表示的崇拜。
According to a survey this year by wedding information magazine zexy , 60 % of couples tied the knot in a christian-style ceremony , while only 17 % went for the traditional shinto style .
