Shintoism originated in the distant past in Japan. People believe in kami these are gods, spirits, natural powers, and ancestors who are worshipped. In approximately the sixth century Buddhism was introduced in Japan. This philosophy of life originated in India but found its way to Japan via China and Korea.
To this day, these two religious movements exist harmoniously alongside each other in Japan. Many Japanese take part in both Shinto and Buddhist rituals in everyday life. Funerals are more often Buddhist. `in many Japanese homes you will find Buddhist house altars for venerating ancestors. Marriage ceremonies, on the other hand, are often carries out according to Shinto tradition.
There is a small group of Japanese who adhere to the Christian faith. For some families this can be traced back to the 16th and 17th centuries when the Portuguese and the Spaniards used trade with Japan to do missionary work. After banishing these traders, the Japanese they converted were persecuted for several centuries. Japanese suspected of adhering to the Christian faith were forced to renounce it under penalty of death. However secretly, the Christian faith continued to be practiced by a small group.
Several religious object can be seen in the Panorama Room including a house altar.