Category: Kami

Kanayago The Iron Worker’s Child ORIGIN: Japan CLASSIFICATION: Kami Kanayago, a celestial kami, stepped off the moon tree intending to deliver a treatise, “A Secret…

Koyasu ALSO KNOWN AS: Koyasu-sama; Koyasu-gami: Koyasu Kannon ORIGIN: Japan CLASSIFICATION: Kami; Bosatsu Koyasu protects children and facilitates safe, easy, successful childbirth. Koyasu-sama is another…

Izanami August Female; The Female Who Is Invited ALSO KNOWN AS: Izanami-no-mikoto ORIGIN: Japan According to the creation saga told in the Japanese epics, the…

Izanagi August Male; The Male Who Invites ORIGIN: Japan Izanagi and Izanami, the celestial pair, formed the universe. (See Izanami for details.) After Izanami’s death…

Inari, spirit of abundance, fertility, growth, and rice, may be Japan’s most popular kami. Over one-third of all Shinto shrines are dedicated to Inari, and…

Hyotoko : The Fire Man; The Whistler Hyotoko is the name of a spirit and the mask used to represent him. The very recognizable mask…

Hosogami ORIGIN: Japan CLASSIFICATION: Kami Hosogami are smallpox spirits. (Hoso is smallpox in Japanese.) For safe recovery to health, the Hosogami must be soothed, propitiated,…

Nurikabe ORIGIN: Japan Nurikabe is a spirit that manifests as a wall. Unlike regular walls, however, the Nurikabe is mobile and sentient. Some Nurikabe may…

Hachiman ALSO KNOWN AS: Yawata CLASSIFICATION: Kami, Bosatsu Hachiman the Divine Warrior is the patron, guardian, and defender of Japan. In his past life, he…