Kawano (sociology and anthropology, U. of Guelph, Ontario) investigates religious rites, or those often defined by their associations with supernatural entities and powers, and analyzes how people construct ritual multiple interpretive possibilities. He finds that, depending on the situation and who he asked, ritual encounters with Shinto kami or Buddhist hotoke can reflect religious devotion, social bonding, or formal occasions with little religious value. The study is based on his doctoral dissertation. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)