The nation of Japan, even more than other countries, has a long, long history behind it. It is a country that dates back to the BC era and has experienced various powerful events that have shaped the country since its inception. As with other nations, an important part of their past lies in their religion. Before being introduced to Buddhism and other outside religions, which had a great impact on their society, the Japanese followed something known as Shinto. As the only religion that can truly be called “Japanese,” it follows that its influences would still remain in people's eyes and only aided by a traditionally xenophobic view of the world. Now, in modern Japan, the role of fundamental religion has, for the most part, come to an end. The country has asserted its relevance in an increasingly globalized world. They have proven to be a powerhouse in the business sector, especially when it comes to advancement in the technological field. The first thing that comes to mind when people think of Japanese businessmen is their unwavering kindness and sense of respect. Clearly, how you view courtesy is often driven by how your society views courtesy. So, I find myself wondering to what extent, if any, their modern business ideas coincide with their original religion. First, Shinto itself must be explored. To briefly summarize the story, Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan which, as mentioned, dates back to before written documents. In fact, the term “Shinto” was not even used to identify their religion until others began to infiltrate their country, since previously they had no need to distinguish something that, at the time, was a universal concept for their country . The term means “the way of the ka…… middle of the paper…… everything else. I would say that many of their modern concepts, if not derived from modernization itself, are the result of all the cultural influences that have been passed down from generation to generation. In the end, it's just like in every country: how they see things in the past and present influences how they see things in the future. Works Cited “Business Trip to Japan on a Budget.” CNN Business Traveler. Perf. Riccardo Quest. CNN, 2006. Television.Dore, Ron. “50 Years of Observing Japan: Economy, Society, and Business Education.” YouTube. Global MBA, 2011. Web. March 2, 2012. Iwase, Daisuke; Terrie Lloyd, et. al. “Entrepreneurship in Japan and Asia”. G1 Global Conference 2011. GLOBIS Tokyo Campus, 2011. Web. March 2, 2012. World Religions: Shinto. Perf. Ben Kingsley. SCHLESSINGER VIDEO, 1998. VHS. Return of the Gods. UFO TV, 2005. DVD.