Inanimate Things Have a Spirit
Many Japanese Buddhists believe that even inanimate objects have a spirit and many Japanese ghost tales involve an object coming to life. A great example of this is the annual ningyo kuyo ceremony which is a funeral of sorts for unwanted dolls. Donors and Buddhist monks offer prayers of thanks for the joy and fond memories brought by the dolls before they are burnt in a small hearth at a temple. The Japanese folktale about a living umbrella also serves as a reminder that even inanimate objects can have a spirit, or not.