Japan Connecting the Deep Layers
The other day, I had the opportunity to speak with economist Eric Glen Weyl (hereafter Glen), who was visiting Japan. He had been looking for someone to discuss how Japan’s animistic Shinto worldview overlaps with AI, and a mutual acquaintance introduced us.
Glen, co-author with Audrey Tang of PLURALITY, is a thinker who presents a vision of a society based on diversity and collective intelligence. He works at the intersection of technology and democracy, attempting to redefine animism and humanity in a global context. (The Japanese edition of PLURALITY, was published on May 2, 2025.)
I would like to share some reflections from our conversation.
Japan Connecting the Deep Layers
If you trace the deep layers of places around the world, you’ll find that an animistic worldview once thrived in each land.
Under the historical logic of "developing the undeveloped" and "civilizing the uncivilized," the lives of many Indigenous peoples have been pushed aside. Lands were colonized, and people’s consciousness—as well as the cultures and wisdom handed down through generations—was overlaid by new systems. Japan was not exempt from these influences and, in fact, made such choices for itself. As a result, our daily lives are now supported by well-developed social infrastructure. Compared to other regions where lands were forcibly taken, Japan has retained and blended its ancient animistic qualities into the fabric of modern life.
Japanese anime culture is one example. Within its dynamic storytelling lie subtle human emotions, heartfelt prayers, and philosophies that can be shared across generations. Anime from Japan, shaped by an animistic worldview in which gods and Buddhas coexist, captivates people around the world—perhaps because it resonates with a universal sensibility that lies deep beneath the surface.
The ambiguous, in-between realm known as awai in Japanese has been increasingly clarified and categorized through the process of modernization. Even during the Haibutsu Kishaku (anti-Buddhist movement) that saw temples and Buddhist statues destroyed, people continued to turn their hearts to trees, stones, and small roadside shrines, maintaining everyday acts of prayer. Even today, not only archaeologists and historians but also farmers, forest and ocean stewards, and we who continue to use the Japanese language are participants in the living culture of this land.
As we enter an age where intelligence is increasingly entrusted to AI, the wisdom we humans must embody through heart and body likely lies in these deeper layers. The deep strata beneath our feet also represent the deeper layers of our consciousness and souls.
Shoukei: "What I want to propose is the perspective of the 'Global Underneath.' If McDonald's is a symbol of globalization, then the surface of the world is covered with McDonald's. But if we dig beneath that surface, we encounter each region's unique animistic spirituality. Therefore, what we should aim for is solidarity among these Global Underneaths."
Glen: "It’s similar to fossil fuels. In the past, if fire burst from the earth, we’d try to extinguish it. Now we deliberately dig into the ground to extract oil. Likewise, whereas Christianity once suppressed the spiritual currents welling up from the earth, today we must instead dig for them."
The world is often divided along the surface lines of left versus right, Global North versus Global South. Globalization flattens the surface of society, making the deeper, distinctive-yet-universal wisdoms harder to see. But if we direct our gaze downward, we may notice simple, shared sensibilities. If each of us descends into our own depths and connects with others, Japan may be able to play a role as a "bridge" or "mediator." That could be a new model of leadership for a new era.
The Japanese archipelago is geographically and culturally a place where various flows have long converged. Since the Jomon period, Japan has engaged in exchanges across Asia and the Pacific, continuously generating new cultural forms by integrating diverse traditions.
The spirituality of Japanese culture rests on a foundation of animism where shamanism, Shinto, and Buddhist thought and practice intermingle and overlap. Although there was a separation of traditions during the Haibutsu Kishaku, this history of syncretism continues to shape Japanese identity. With this background, Japan may be uniquely positioned to connect the world’s deep layers in an era of superficial globalization. This may also signify a new form of global leadership.
Human Potential in the Age of AI
In the West, AI is often seen as a threat to humanity. Concerns focus on the loss of freedom due to surveillance or manipulation. In contrast, Eastern perspectives tend not to project malice onto AI, instead favoring visions of collaboration and mutual learning between humans and AI.
Glen: "In the West, there’s a binary debate: 'Do computers or machines have consciousness or not?' But from an animistic point of view, the answer is: 'Of course machines have souls.' The question of how that relates to human souls is more complex, but the binary of 'yes or no' itself isn’t what matters."
Whether machines have consciousness or not holds little meaning from an animistic perspective. The Eastern idea of perceiving existence not as isolated entities but within diverse relationships aligns with systems thinking and network theory.
AI also grows autonomously within its environment. Like a parent raising a child, it develops beyond the designer’s original intent. In this age of convergence between technology and humanity, Eastern ways of thinking and wisdom are becoming increasingly relevant around the world.
Glen: "The issue is: who can articulate this? For example, Shinto doesn’t necessarily connect directly to philosophy or technology. Conversely, many philosophers maintain distance from Shinto. Even people strongly influenced by Shinto around the world don’t necessarily consider themselves 'religious.' It’s simply that these ideas form the foundation of their worldview. They feel a cultural connection to Japanese culture and are certainly influenced by Shinto-like ideas, but they don’t identify as belonging to a religion. Animism isn’t limited to Shinto—it’s a much broader worldview rooted in many parts of the world."
Shoukei: "That’s precisely why speaking from the perspective of 'animism' rather than the label 'Shinto' offers a more universal and shareable framework."
Human Literacy: Living in Momentum
The definitive difference between AI and humans is that AI can be initialized. AI can always restart from scratch, but human life is a continuum of accumulated past experiences.
Shoukei: "Before the emergence of AI, the word 'humanity' in the West was essentially linked to goodness or value. But AI has begun to surpass the rational aspect of humans—logos. So how can we now differentiate humans from other entities? The answer lies in the simple fact that we are animals. We have bodies, families, histories. We eat, feel, and live within the limitations of time. That is our essence. Machines can be restarted anytime, but we live within the flow of history—in momentum."
AI functions as a mirror reflecting the consciousness and needs that lie in our deep layers. Learning together with AI is, in a way, profoundly Buddhist, and it resonates with the traditions of Japanese Buddhism. Precisely because we are in the age of AI, a human literacy grounded in a Japanese Buddhist perspective is something the world needs.
The animistic deep layers that remain across the world are best awakened not through extractive approaches, but through quiet attentiveness. Instead of treating AI as an enemy, coexisting with it as part of nature allows AI to develop civilization while supporting the essence of humanity.
Glen noted that the idea of "Broad Listening" resonates deeply with the important role Japan could play in the international community moving forward. He also expressed interest in the work of AI engineer and entrepreneur Takahiro Anno.
Currently, I have begun writing a book on human literacy in the age of AI. I hope to make it accessible to many, even those without prior knowledge of Buddhism or Shinto. Rather than being confined within the category of religion, I want to share a form of universal wisdom. This wisdom, transmitted through the deep layers, will continue to be passed on to people around the world.