On 7 June 2004 a workshop on Shinto took place at the department of East-Asian studies of Ca'Foscari University of Venice, lodged in a beautiful 16th century building named Palazzo Vendramin dei Carmini. It was organized on the initiative of professor Massimo Raveri, professor of Japanese Religions and Philosophies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, was conducted in English and attended by professors and students from Ca' Foscari University of Venice.
          The program started with the ceremony of presentation of a 121 volume set of the Shinto Taikei which was recently donated to the library of the Department of East Asian Studies by the International Shinto Foundation (Shinto Kokusai Gakkai). Director of the East-Asian Studies department, Professor Magda Abbiati, welcomed Professor Umeda Yoshimi, Director General of ISF and Professor Ghetti Pier Francesco, Rector of Ca' Foscari University of Venice who - notwithstanding his prior engagements - took part in the ceremony. Finally, thanking professor Raveri for organizing the event, she mentioned Professor Paolo Beonio Brocchieri who, in 1965, started the study on Japanese religion at Ca' Foscari University of Venice.
          Then the Rector took the floor and thanked professor Umeda on behalf of Ca' Foscari University of Venice. He stressed the importance of the study of Japanese Religion at Ca' Foscari University: there are four courses on the history of Japanese religions, three courses on classical Japanese language based on religious texts, and a degree course on the Science of Religions with a curriculum on Japanese religions. Therefore he hopes that this opportunity will encourage the relationship between ISF and Ca' Foscari University of Venice.
          Prof. Umeda presented the Rector with volumes 1 and 121, "the alpha and the omega of Shinto Taikei" to symbolize the donation. Afterwards all the participants proceeded to one of the library rooms where the Shinto taikei is placed. Here Rev. Umeda Setsuko, an ordained Shinto priestess, performed a purification rite in front of a small kamidana prepared for the ritual. When Rev. Umeda, wearing a beautiful ritual costume, entered the room a hush fell over the crowd. For most of the students, this was their first encounter with Shinto rituals that they had previously learned only in books. About 100 people, including students and professors of the Department of East-Asian Studies, attended the ceremony and recited the Amatsu norito, basic purification prayer, reading from the previously distributed text.
          After a short break, the day continued with a workshop on "Shinto, the Religious Experience of Japan". The workshop was chaired by professor Umeda and consisted of four papers presented by professor Umeda Yoshimi, Rev. Umeda Setsuko, Professor Lucia Dolce (SOAS University of London, England), Professor Simone Dalla Chiesa (University of Milan, Italy) and Professor Massimo Raveri (Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy).
          The papers addressed several aspects related to Shinto, its history and its relationship with Japanese politics and society (Professor Umeda Yoshimi), the training to become kannushi and the role of women in Shinto tradition (Rev. Umeda Setsuko), the exchange between Buddhist and Shinto tradition during the matsuri (Professor Lucia Dolce), the particular feature of some matsuri in a Japanese community (Professor Simone Dalla Chiesa) and the hermeneutics of ritual language in Shinto (professor Massimo Raveri).
          Professor Umeda began his talk with the history of Shinto in early Japan. Then he focused on the　crucial turning point in the 19th century when Shinto was divided into State Shinto, linked to the imperial tradition of Shinto, and Kyoha Shinto, or "Sect Shinto" which had expanded enormously as popular cults. After World War II, State Shinto was dismantled and replaced by 'Jinja Shinto', or 'Shrine Shinto', which represents Shinto shrines at the regional and local levels. Furthermore, Shinto played a prominent role in the development of new Japanese religion at the beginning of Meiji era. Then professor Umeda explained the activity and purposes of the International Shinto Foundation.
Mrs. Umeda was ordained at the major Shinto seminary at Kogakkan University in Ise, home of Japan's most famous shrine. Starting from the figure of Empress Himiko, she illustrated the history of the role of women within the Shinto tradition.
          Professor Lucia Dolce introduced the symbiotic relationship between the Shinto tradition and Buddhist tradition and underlined the role played by esoteric Buddhism in the elaboration of kami and buddhas combinatory theories. Showing attractive slides, she presented two examples of contemporary rituals devoted to kami and performed by Buddhist monks：the sannô reihaikô, performed on May 26 at the major shrine of the Hiyoshi Jinja complex (Omiya, today Nishi hongu).
          Professor Simone Dalla Chiesa presented the matsuri gionsai of Gonge (Ibaraki ken), performed towards the middle of July at Yasaka jinja in Tsukuba shi (once Toyosato machi).
Finally, Professor Raveri addressed the subject of rite as a language through which Shinto is expressed, a characteristic that has allowed a great freedom of religious expression. Furthermore, this ritual language adapts itself to contemporary society's mass media mode of expression.
                                    
          In general, the questions addressed numerous fundamental issues: the etymology of the word "Shinto", the relationship between Shinto and so-called new Japanese religions, the school to become kannushi, the possibility or not for non-Japanese people to become kannushi, the diffusion in Japan of Shinto rites performed in Buddhist temples, or vice versa (for example the case of the Inari cult that is mainly performed in two temples of the Zen sect and in a temple of the Nichiren sect, or the cult of shichifukujin in some Buddhist temples) and their relationships.
          As closing remarks, Professor Adriana Boscaro, Senior Member the Department of East-Asian Studies of Ca' Foscari University of Venice expressed her thanks to Professor Umeda and Rev. Umeda.