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Shinto is a Japanese religion centered on the veneration of kami, or spirits, which can take the form of things and concepts important to life, such as wind, rain, fertility, trees, mountains, rivers, and ancestors. It is an animistic religion that embodies various aspects of nature and ancestor worship. Shinto practices include rituals and ceremonies performed at shrines, offerings made to kami, and purification rites. Shinto's worldview emphasizes the importance of living harmoniously with nature and maintaining cleanliness and order in one's life and surroundings. As a component of Japanese culture, it has deeply influenced the country's arts, music, literature, and social customs, including the concepts of harmony, hierarchy, and loyalty to the group.