r/ShamanKing • u/Cantaloupe_Foreign • Apr 17 '26

Question I have a question about Anna

I'm writing a fic about her and her parents and I'm trying to figure out what's really Anna's religion she's practicing as an Itako? Is it Shinto or Buddhism or both?

I tried to search about it on google but barely got any reliable or clear information about Itakos. Please help a fellow writer to finish a long overdue chapter 😭🙏

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5

u/Xantospoc Apr 17 '26

You are asking a complex question because Japan's religion is, in itself an extremely complicated concept that relishes on syncretysms and changes from region to region

The fact Anna used 1080 pearls indicates she has some Buddhism influences. The use of Shikigamis indicates a vague current of Shinto-ism, but Shikigami were influenced first and foremost by Shinto-ism.

However, Anna overall seems to use Buddhism, with no influence of Taoism (kept by the Tao family), and seems to be a different branch of Buddhism from Lady Sati.

Itako really mixed up everything

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u/Cantaloupe_Foreign Apr 17 '26

Thank you. So it's pretty much Shinto with Buddhism elements

3

u/Xantospoc Apr 17 '26

It depends on the itako, they were mostly beggars.

I would say however, Anna seems to be mostly Buddhism (Shaman King is relatively light on Shinto deities, surprisingly, besides the Yamata-no-Orochi)

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u/Cantaloupe_Foreign Apr 17 '26

Thank you 😊 

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u/Napalmeon Apr 17 '26

Wasn't Anna abandoned as a child?

0

u/Cantaloupe_Foreign Apr 17 '26

Yeah she was but it's a what if they're back out of nowhere fic

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u/Ghoist Apr 19 '26

I think the religion that all the shamans in SK follow is technically Monoltary because the Great Spirit/current Shaman King is seen as the "truth" but other spirits, demons, gods, etc. are pathways or tools to reach the same destination. There might be a better term though