Shintoism is an ancient Japanese religion founded somewhere between 660 and 500 BC, and was the state religion until the end of World War II in 1945. Shinto means "way of the gods" and worshipers pray to the main deity, goddess Amaterasu, the sun goddess of fertility. The Shinto religion has several important ceremonies including Oshogatsu, the new year festival. The divine spirit Kami is found in all things in heaven and on earth including plants, animals, and human beings. The cherry extract crystallized and presented above represents the kami spirit found in cherry blossoms, a special kami spirit.