The Japanese Ministry of Forestry promotes mindful time in nature, called forest bathing, citing health benefits for those in urban environments to spend time in the natural world. This video explores the deep reverence for nature at the heart of Japanese culture, through the lens of Shinto, Japan's indigenous religion, and traditional folk tales. I spend some time in nature to try forest bathing for myself, and share the experience, results, and connections to traditional Japanese culture.

Mythos & Logos are two ancient words that can be roughly translated as “Story & Meaning.”

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The purpose of this channel is to share the important stories at the foundation of human cultures throughout history. These include mythology, legends, folktales, religious stories, and parables from the dawn of history to the modern day. This channel provides interpretations and insight into these stories, to find and apply their meaning to contemporary life. All stories covered are treated academically. This channel makes no claims regarding the historical, scientific, or religious truth of these tales. Rather, its goal is to find the meanings understood by their authors and apply them to the modern world.

Shinto: Nature, Gods, and Man in Japan    • Shinto: Nature, Gods, and Man in Japa...  

Referenced Study "The physiological and psychosocial effects of forest therapy: A systematic review," by Keeren Sundara Rajoo, Daljit Singh Karam, Mohd Zaki Abdullah, in Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, Volume 54, 2020, 126744, ISSN 1618-8667, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.1.... (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...)

Original footage filmed at Lake Murray State Park in Ardmore, Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma.

Stock video clips licensed through Storyclips.

Illustrations by Mo-No-Yuki from Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan by Richard Gordon Smith; digital images upscaled in resolution via artificial intelligence.

00:00 Introduction
00:31 Introduction to Forest Bathing
01:48 Shinto & Kami
03:58 Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan by Richard Gordon Smith
06:44 Reflections on Forest Bathing
10:19 Credits