In the countryside of Kagoshima, where I live, there is a shrine called Iikura Shrine. It is one of my favorite places.

In Japan, there is the idea of *ujigami-sama*: a deity who watches over the people of a particular area. I love this shrine for more than the beauty of its buildings. Whenever I visit, the grounds are remarkably clean. The priest sweeps them every morning.

Not a piece of litter in sight. Clear air. Great trees that have stood for hundreds of years.

When I stand here, I feel my mind settle, and somehow feel as if I am being watched over by the kami. But perhaps it is not only the gods who protect us. Someone cleans this place every morning. People in the community have cared for it and kept it safe over the years.

We live supported by so much love and kindness that we cannot see. In Japan, there is a culture of gratitude toward nature, the kami, and the land where we live.

Every time I visit this shrine, I am reminded that we do not live alone. We are protected and sustained by many things and many beings.

This is one of the Japanese scenes I love most.