Today we talk with Héctor García. Born in Spain, García has lived in Japan for the past two decades. He is author of A Geek in Japan, The Magic of Japan and the bestselling Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, among other books. Today, he discuss his recent release Spirit of Shinto: Finding Nature and Harmony on Japan’s Sacred Path, translated by At the end of the show, he reveals information about his first novel.
Available on Bookshop (US) or Amazon (world-wide)
Available on Bookshop (US) or Amazon (world-wide)
Eternity in Kyoto is a techno thriller with a love story. Cross a barrier, enter a parallel world.
Show Notes
Amy Chavez and Héctor García discuss his recently released book, The Spirit of Shinto, and how Shinto’s worldview permeates pop culture—anime, manga, films—where good and evil often blur, echoing the idea that kegare (dirt, corruption) must be cleansed rather than destroyed. Unlike Western religions where God is above, Shinto gods exist among people, as seen in Makoto Shinkai’s films or games like Ghost in the Shell and Nintendo’s video games. Hector, a Tokyoite himself, urges people to seek the Shinto “awe” in their daily lives since Shinto should not be explained but lived. At the very end of the episode, Garcia talks about his just-released novel Eternity in Kyoto a techno thriller with a love story that employs the Shinto concept of crossing through a gate and entering a parallel world.
Movies and media discussed in this episode:
Lord of the Rings, Makoto Shinkai movies, Ghost in the Shell, Totoro
Places Mentioned
Kanami Ojin shrine, Nintendo HQ
Japanese concepts explained
kami, satoyama
García’s Favorite Books
Something like an Autobiography by Akira Kurosawa
The Housekeeper and the Professor, by Yoko Ogawa
Pure Invention by Matt Alt
You can find Héctor García on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.
The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press.
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