Taishi Kato is a licensed Shinto priest with a master's degree in Asian and African religions and an outside-the-box style of thinking.

The 31-year-old, who earned his degree at the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies, has turned to running as he searches for a unique way to give religion new meaning in a changing world.

"We have to think about how to attract people to the shrine and how to plan for future changes," Kato said.