This is due to the fact that "Shinto" has different meanings in Japan: most of the Japanese attend Shinto shrines and beseech kami without belonging to Shinto organisations, and since there are no formal rituals to become a member of folk Shinto, Shinto membership is often estimated counting those who join organised Shinto sects.
"शिंटो" हा जपानमध्ये वेगवेगळ्या अर्थाच्या आधारावर आहे: जपानमधील बहुतेक शिंटो हे शिंटो संघटनांच्या सदस्य न बनता शिंटो विहारात (प्रार्थनास्थळ) येतात आणि ते "शिंटो" सदस्य होण्याचे औपचारिक नियतकालिक नाहीत.