Please note that Buddhism was started only around 2500 year ago whereas सनातन धर्म is in existence since thousands of years ago. Please also note that our ऋषि-मुनी were engaged in spreading Bhaarateey culture since long. All the lands in the world had the benefit of getting initiated in Bhaarateey culture by these great people. That is why whatever Religion, the Japanese were following that time, they got attracted to these Bhaarateey ऋषि-मुनी and modified (if they had anything earlier) in the सनातन धर्म way and became सनातनी. As we know, their religion prior to Buddhism was शिंटो. This is mere अपभ्रंश of the word सनातन. So they must have picked up the pantheon of Hindu Gods then. That is why we are finding so many temples of many Gods (similar to those of Hindus) there even now. Buddhism is nothing but सनातन धर्म giving more importance of the अहिंसा principle as compared to others that is all.
Most people are not aware that numerous Hindu deities are very actively worshiped in Japan. In fact, there are hundreds of shrines to Saraswati alone. There are innumerable representations of Lakshmi, Indra, Brahma, Ganesha, Garuda and other deities. In fact, deities we have practically forgotten in India, such as Vayu and Varuna are still worshiped in Japan.
In many ways, I find that Japan has preserved ancient Hindu traditions, even when they may have changed here in India. A study of Japanese Buddhism also provides missing links in our study of the evolution of Buddhism in its present form in Tibet
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