<P> Shintoism is an ethnic religion that focuses on ceremonies and rituals . In Shintoism, followers believe that kami, a Shinto deity or spirit, are present throughout nature, including rocks, trees, and mountains . Humans can also be considered to possess a kami . One of the goals of Shintoism is to maintain a connection between humans, nature, and kami . The religion developed in Japan prior to the sixth century CE, after which point followers built shrines to worship kami . </P> <P> Buddhism developed in India around the 6th and 4th centuries BCE and eventually spread through China and Korea . It arrived in Japan during the 6th century CE, where it was initially unpopular . Most Japanese people were unable to understand the difficult philosophical messages present in Buddhism, however they did have an appreciation for the religion's art, which is believed to have led to the religion growing more popular . Buddhism is concerned with the soul and life after dying . In the religion a person's status was unimportant, as every person would get sick, age, die, and eventually be reincarnated into a new life, a cycle called saṃsāra . The suffering people experienced during life was one way for people to gain a better future . The ultimate goal was to escape the cycle of death and rebirth by attaining true insight . </P> <P> The four traditional theatres from Japan are noh (or nō), kyōgen, kabuki, and bunraku . Noh had its origins in the union of the sarugaku, with music and dance made by Kanami and Zeami Motokiyo . Among the characteristic aspects of it are the masks, costumes, and the stylized gestures, sometimes accompanied by a fan that can represent other objects . The noh programs are presented in alternation with the ones of kyōgen, traditionally in number of five, but currently in groups of three . </P> <P> The kyōgen, of humorous character, had older origin, in 8th century entertainment brought from China, developing itself in sarugaku . In kyōgen, masks are rarely used and even if the plays can be associated with the ones of noh, currently many are not . </P>

Which nation outside of japan have the most cultural influence on japan