Hinduism’s amazing journey to Japan - 80% of Japanese gods are Hindu (Watch video)

January 7, 2015, NewsCrunch

Shoten-cho in Tokyois famous for its many temples and shrines. Shoten, the Noble God, is the Japanese form of Hindu deity Ganapati.

Shoten-cho also has temples of Sarasvati and Shiva.

Few Japanese know most of the gods they worship are of Indian origin, says former Japanese Ambassador to India, Yasukuni Enoki.

Hindu deities became popular in Japan after 6th century onwards along with the spread of Buddhism. They took root in Japan due to the influence of Shintoism, an animist religion.

Temples to Saraswati, Brahma, Kubera, Indra, Shiva, Ganesha and even Yama can be commonly spotted in Japan though in local names and forms.

Japanalso embraced Sanskrit and Hindu rituals of worship including the performance of yagna.

A video Indian Deities Worshipped in Japan explores the amazing cross-cultural journey of Hindu gods to the land of the Rising Sun.