Many people in Japan describe themselves as having no religion. That does not necessarily mean they believe that gods and Buddhas do not exist. In Japan, saying “I have no religion” often means that a person does not belong to a particular religious organization or make religion a central part of their identity. It is not always a statement of atheism.
Someone who considers themselves nonreligious may still visit a shrine at New Year, go to a family grave during Obon, and hold a Buddhist funeral for a relative. A couple might choose a Shinto wedding ceremony or a Christian-style ceremony. Moving between different religious traditions in this way does not feel contradictory to many Japanese people.
These practices are usually not treated as declarations of faith. They are accepted as seasonal customs, family traditions, or appropriate ways to mark important moments in life. A person does not necessarily think, “I am practicing Shinto,” every time they visit a shrine at New Year. Visiting a grave also does not always mean that they clearly identify as Buddhist.
Religion is so naturally woven into these customs that people may not think of what they are doing as religious at all. They may have no sense of belonging to a particular faith, while still retaining a kind of belief expressed through habit and tradition.
When asked whether gods or Buddhas truly exist, many people are also more likely to say, “I do not know, but perhaps they do,” than to insist that they definitely do not. They may not have a strong or clearly defined belief, but they do not feel a need to reject the possibility completely.
The same distinction appears in attitudes toward shrines, temples, and graves. Treating such places carelessly or kicking a gravestone would be unacceptable to many people, but not necessarily because they fear divine punishment. It is more basic than that. Damaging a place that has long been respected, or showing contempt toward the dead, is seen as a violation of ordinary manners and decency.
At the same time, many Japanese people are cautious about religious groups that actively recruit members or try to become deeply involved in their personal lives and relationships. They may feel completely comfortable taking part in a shrine or temple custom, yet become uneasy when asked to join a specific organization. At that point, religion can suddenly feel less like a familiar part of daily life and more like a serious personal commitment.
Firm atheists certainly exist in Japan. What is more common, however, is not strongly denying the existence of gods or Buddhas, but living without clearly defining one’s religious identity. A person may visit a shrine at New Year, pay respects at a family grave during Obon, and still answer “nothing in particular” when asked about religion. In Japan, that is not unusual at all.