There were no protesters waiting at the bottom of the stairs when Akiko got back for the shrine, and for a moment hope flared; maybe they had given up? Realism soon took over, however, and she hurried up the steps, hoping that they hadn’t caused any damage already.

Her heart sank as she reached the top. There were half a dozen of the protesters, including Mrs Watanabe, gathered under a large banner, two of them holding up the poles.

“Shinto Equals Fascism

“Just Say No!â€

While Akiko was hurrying over to confront them, Mrs Watanabe noticed her and strode out to meet her.

“You show your true colours now!â€ she said, pointing at the Japanese flag hanging limply in the still air. “We cannot allow this kind of thing to continue.â€

“It’s a Japanese flag, and we’re in Japan. Hardly fascism.â€

Mrs Watanabe looked Akiko up and down, contempt on her face.

“You’re too young to remember the Pacific War. You don’t know the damage Shinto did to Japan, and to the rest of Asia.â€

“You aren’t old enough to remember it either,â€ Akiko shot back. Mrs Watanabe was old enough to be her mother, but not her grandmother.

“My parents remembered it. I know what Shinto told people to do. I know what damage it did.â€ She sounded really angry, but Akiko wasn’t about to give ground.

“That was seventy years ago. Shinto isn’t the same now.â€

“Oh? Then why do you have the flag?â€

Akiko didn’t have a quick answer to that question, and Mrs Watanabe smiled, apparently sensing victory.

“And if Shinto isn’t about loyalty to the Emperor and conquering in the name of Imperial Japan, what <em>is </em>it about?â€

Akiko did have an answer to that, at least the beginnings of one, but she couldn’t use it. Mrs Watanabe certainly wasn’t going to believe in kegare, and the need to purify it.

“In any case,â€ she said, at last, “we are not fascists, so take that banner down and get it out of the shrine grounds.â€ As she said this, Shiraishi came running out of the shrine house, looking flushed and nearly as angry as Mrs Watanabe.

“Get that banner, and yourselves, out of the shrine!â€ she yelled, coming to a stop in front of Mrs Watanabe and sweeping her gaze over the other protesters.

“No.â€ Mrs Watanabe wasn’t budging this time. “Shinto brings nothing but trouble. It nearly destroyed Japan. It destroys families. I’m not going to let you continue promoting it here.â€

Akiko took a step back, astonished by the venom in Mrs Watanabe’s condemnation. She’d never met anyone who thought like that; most people barely thought about Shinto at all, but went along to shrines at New Year. Why was she so hostile?

“This is private property! Get off now before I call the police!â€ Shiraishi was really angry, and shouting back. The other protesters, Akiko noticed, were looking a bit uncomfortable, but Mrs Watanabe still wasn’t moving.

Then Akiko heard running footsteps, coming into the shrine, and looked round to see Mr Akiyama, breathing hard, hurry into the grounds.

“Mrs Watanabe! Please!â€ he called out. “Remember what we discussed. We have to stay within the law. Now, come on, let’s get off the shrine property, as the priest asked.â€ He turned to Shiraishi, and bowed deeply. “I am really very sorry, Revd Shiraishi. Mrs Watanabe just got carried away. We will leave the grounds now.â€ The other protesters were already on their way to the steps, and although Mrs Watanabe looked for a moment as though she would protest again, she didn’t, just giving Akiko and Shiraishi angry looks before walking off. Mr Akiyama bowed to them once more from the top of the stairs, and then they were gone.