Japan, circa 1885
by Baron Raymund von Stillfried

The Shinto religion is an animistic belief system, originating in Japan thousands of years ago, involving the worship of Kami spirits (places, objects, people, etc. that are considered divinities). In this image, taken by the Austrian born photographer Baron Raimund von Stillfried, a Shinto priest is offering Sake to a Kami in the hopes that his prayers will be answered.