How does real Shinto compare to what Ive seen in anime, manga, or games?
That depends on what you have seen. Some anime, manga, and video games contain a fairly accurate portrayal of how Shinto figures into the lives of practitioners. However, some forms of entertainment use some of the symbols, myths, and physical trappings of Shinto as set dressing for inventive fantasy stories. This is similar to the practice of using elements from Christianity or the myths of King Arthur and his knights to make Western stories more entertaining. While Shinto affords the opportunity to develop a very close relationship with the natural world and the kami, it is important to maintain a realistic perspective.
