This study investigates the persistence and mechanics of shamanistic practices within the cultural and religious framework of Japan. Carmen Blacker, a renowned scholar of Japanese religion, utilizes extensive field research and historical analysis to document the lives of contemporary shamans, mediums, and ascetics. The work argues that these ancient traditions remain a vital, albeit often overlooked, component of the Japanese spiritual landscape, operating alongside established institutional religions.

Experts and academics consistently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of folk religion and shamanism in Japan. Readers frequently note the meticulous detail and scholarly rigor Blacker brings to her ethnographic observations.