A small furrytsukumogami formed from the stirrup of a mounted soldier who fell in battle, it typically stays put and awaits its creator's return, unaware of said soldier's death.
A large-headed spirit that lives in the mountain passes ofKumamoto Prefecture, thought to be the reincarnation of a person who stole oil and then fled into the woods.
The daughter ofHosuseri and the first wife ofEmperor Jimmu, though she was not made Empress and her children would not inherit the throne. Her sonTagishimimi tried to seize power from his half-brotherEmperor Suizei but failed and was killed for it.
A ghost in a red or blue mantle that offers either red or blue toilet paper rolls in bathrooms, then kills whoever answers based on their choice: flaying for red, strangulation for blue.
A hairy-faced creature with clawed hands and a large red tongue that looms in a black cloud over a floodgate belonging to someone who took more than their fair share of irrigation water during a drought.
A red child's hand dangling from a tree in the city ofHachinohe inAomori Prefecture, accompanied by a hypnotically beautiful woman standing beneath the tree to lure people into its occasionally-deadly grasp.
A Japanese mermaidyōkai that emerged from the sea to give a prophecy of either an epidemic or a bountiful harvest and instructed that its likeness be hung in various places for good luck. It saw a surge in popularity during theCOVID pandemic.
The name of the caveAmaterasu hid herself in afterSusanoo drove her away by vandalizing her rice fields and throwing a flayed horse at her loom, which killed one of her maidens, due to a quarrel the two had been having.Ame-no-Uzume lured her back out with the help of the mirrorYata-no-Kagami andAme-no-Tajikarao sealed the cave so she couldn't go back in.
A monstrous goddess mentioned in theKujiki, born fromSusanoo's ferocious spirit (hisara-mitama) when he vomited it forth to expel it. She is said to be an ancestor deity for all short-tempered, disobedientyōkai.
TheShinto sun goddess, sister ofSusanoo the storm god andTsukuyomi the moon god. She is the ancestor of the Imperial line and is often considered the chiefkami of the Shinto pantheon.
An old woman spirit fromMiyagi Prefecture andAomori Prefecture who comes late at night and asks for sweetsake in a childish voice, bringing disease (usuallysmallpox or thecommon cold) to whoever answers, unless a cedar branch is placed in the doorway to repel her.
A lake-dwellingAinu creature resembling a giantfish orwhale that is known for sinking ships and sometimes taking the form of a beautiful woman to lure sailors to their deaths.
The second son of Amaterasu, sent to earth to rule after his older brotherAme-no-oshihomimi refused. Some say he was the father ofAme no Wakahiko. Theamatsukami didn't hear from him for three years, so anotherkami was sent to rule. He is the ancestor of theHaji clan, theIzumo clan and theSugawara clan, among others.
The first, or one of the first gods to manifest when the heavens and the earth came into existence. He is ahitorigami and one of the fivekotoamatsukami.
The first son of Amaterasu, husband ofTakuhadachiji-hime and father ofNinigi-no-Mikoto andAmenohoakari. He was created in akami-making competition between her and her brotherSusanoo, and was offered rulership of the earth, but refused.
Thekami of power, known for his immense physical and brute strength. He sealed the caveAmaterasu had hidden herself in after she had been lured back out byAme-no-Uzume.
A floating bridge that connects the heavens (Takamagahara) and the earth, guarded bySarutahiko Ōkami. It is said that this is whereIzanagi andIzanami stood when they gave form to the world by creating the primordial landmassOnogoroshima using the spearAme-no-Nuboko. It is also said that the bridge has since collapsed, with its remains forming the area west ofKyoto.
Thekami of dawn, mirth, meditation, revelry and the arts. With the help of the mirrorYata-no-Kagami, she luredAmaterasu back out of the cave she had hidden herself in afterSusanoo drove her away by vandalizing her rice fields and throwing a flayed horse at her loom, which killed one of her maidens, due to a quarrel the two had been having.
Akami of grains who was sent to earth to either rule it or look forAme no Hohi, who some say was his father. Theamatsukami didn't hear from him for eight years, so they sent a bird down as a messenger to him. He slew it with an arrow that went all the way to Heaven, which was thrown back by eitherAmaterasu orTakamimusubi, killing him.
A female ghost who lurks in an abandoned Imperial palace, waiting for visitors who never arrive, and even if they did, she would kill and devour them for not being the person she's waiting for.
Ablack-crowned night heron of great age, that has become ayōkai and now shines an iridescent blue at night and exhales a glowing golden dust. It retains a normal heron's shyness and flees from people, so it is rarely seen.
Akami andtengu believed to be an avatar of the BuddhistbodhisattvaJizō andIzanami, worshiped as a protector against fire and as a god of war and victory bysamurai.
Ayōkai that is only sound, like apoltergeist. It makes the sound of red beans being sown on the floor in the house it haunts, gradually becoming louder.
A ghostly whale skeleton that drifts along the coastline ofShimane Prefecture, accompanied by strange birds and fish as it seeks to avenge its slain kin by cursing whalers and those who eat whale meat with plagues and fire.
A largechicken monster fromIyo Province that breathes cold fire that does not burn, named for the eerie rustling sound its wings make when it flaps them.
The goddess of financial fortune, talent, beauty and music. As such she is the patron of artists,geisha, writers, dancers and others. One of theSeven Lucky Gods.
A spirit that brings poverty and other such misery unless placated with bakedmiso.
Bishamonten
Better known asVaiśravaṇa. The god of fortune in war and battles, also associated with authority and dignity, protector of those who follow the rules and behave accordingly. He is also a protector of holy sites. One of theSeven Lucky Gods.
Afuton that has come to life as atsukumogami and now comes to life at night to try to kill the person sleeping on it by throwing them out of bed before wrapping around their head and neck with the intent to smother and strangle.
The god of commerce and prosperity, sometimes considered a patron of cooks, farmers and bankers, and a protector of crops. He is also considered a demon hunter. One of theSeven Lucky Gods.
The wisest, most powerfultengu, each of whom resembles a red-skinned old man with a long nose and lives on a separate mountain. The wisest, most powerfuldaitengu of all isSōjōbō ofMount Kurama, the king and god of alltengu.
An old woman in the Underworld who removes the clothes (or skin, if unclothed) of the dead and gives them toKeneō to be weighed, so that judgment may be passed.
The god of prosperity and wealth in business, and of abundance in crops, cereals and food in general. He is a patron of fishermen and one of theSeven Lucky Gods, and one ofIzanagi andIzanami's first children, though they disowned him for being deformed.
A ghostly woman with a second mouth on the back of her head, that whispers to the woman and clamors to be fed, or feeds itself using the woman's hair, which has become prehensile.
Akami of rituals, oracles and divination, and a legendary ancestor of theInbe clan. He is a son ofTakamimusubi, the brother ofOmoikane andTakuhadachiji-hime, and the father ofKamotaketsunumi no Mikoto. He was also involved in gettingAmateratsu out ofAma-no-Iwato, which is the name of the cave she hid herself in afterSusanoo drove her away by vandalizing her rice fields and throwing a flayed horse at her loom, which killed one of her maidens, due to a quarrel the two had been having.
Akami of swords and warfare, the general ofAmaterasu, a legendary ancestor of theMononobe clan and a tutelary deity of theFujiwara clan. He is closely associated withTakemikazuchi and the two are often worshipped together.
Twokami of earth, clay and pottery, either born fromIzanami andIzanagi after Japan was made, or fromIzanami's feces as she died from giving birth toKagu-tsuchi.
A woman fromEhime Prefecture with a thornlike barb on the tip of each strand of her long prehensile hair, which she uses to ensnare and attack men who dare to smile back at her when she smiles at them.
The eldest son ofNinigi-no-Mikoto andKonohanasakuya-hime, akami of the sea's bounty and the brother ofHoori. His lost fishhook led to his brother meetingToyotama-hime, and he eventually swore to serve his brother forever after losing a fight between the two. He is also the ancestor of theHayato people.
The wicked spirit ofTamamo-no-Mae, released upon the discovery of her true nature as akitsune, it was hunted down on the plains ofNasu and became theSesshō-seki.
A skeleton woman who seeks a man's love but brings death to her lover, as related in the storyBotan Dōrō, whose ghostly subject is one of the three most famousonryō.
A ball guarded by akitsune (fox spirit) which can give the one who obtains it power to force thekitsune to help them. It is said to hold some reserves of thekitsune's power.
Better known asBudai. The god of fortune, guardian of children, patron of diviners and barmen, and also the god of popularity. One of theSeven Lucky Gods.
A huge, very longsea serpent that travels over boats in a long, slow arc while dripping copious amounts of a thick, viscous oil, encountered off the coast ofHitachi Province.
Thekami of mirrors, who, along with the blacksmith deityAma-Tsu-Mara, made the mirrorYata no Kagami that helped lureAmaterasu out of theAma-no-Iwato cave and returned light to the world. For this she is worshipped by stonecutters and mirror makers and is revered as the deity of casting and metalworking.
A maritime phenomenon nearNagasaki Prefecture,Enoshima andSaga Prefecture where there is a great splash near a ship, as if a huge boulder had been thrown into the sea, yet there is no boulder to be seen.
A roll of cotton fromKagoshima Prefecture that has come to life as atsukumogami and now attempts to smother people by wrapping itself around their faces.
Akami known as the first man, brother-husband of the first woman,Izanami. Together they created Japan, and all thekami who came after owe their lives to them in one way or another.
The Japanese Buddhist version of Hell, where the freshly dead go after receiving judgment fromDatsue-ba andKeneō. They pay for their sins there, then await reincarnation.
A giantcatfish dwelling beneath the earth, near thekaname-ishi, the rock that holds down the Japanese archipelago, which causes earthquakes andtsunamis when it moves, despite being restrained byTakemikazuchi. It was blamed during theAnsei earthquake and tsunami.[citation needed]
Akami of fire, whose birth killed his motherIzanami, sending her toYomi and creating the concept of Death, which enraged his fatherIzanagi into beheading him and cutting him into eight pieces, which created eight volcanoes. Some sayAmatsu-Mikaboshi was born from his blood, along with numerous otherkami.
Villages hidden deep in the mountains, where the inhabitants live peacefully and without conflict. Only those especially good of heart may stumble uponkakurezato, but cannot revisit upon leaving.
The third of the first beings to come into existence when the heavens and the earth took shape, he planted the first grains after eitherSusanoo orTsukuyomi slewUkemochi who had initially produced them. He is the father ofAme-no-Koyane and possibly the father ofSukunabikona. He is ahitorigami and one of the fivekotoamatsukami.
After thekuniumi, whereIzanagi andIzanami created the land of Japan, they created many of (but not all) the myriadkami who inhabit the land, finally culminating in the birth ofKagu-tsuchi and the death ofIzanami, which resulted in the creation of even morekami asIzanagi went toYomi to retrieve her but ended up fleeing. The last three born wereAmaterasu,Susanoo andTsukuyomi, when he purified himself after his escape.
The seven generations ofkami who came into existence after the heavens and the earth took shape but before the birth of Japan, starting withKuni-no-Tokotachi and culminating inIzanagi andIzanami.
A mythological rock that is said to hold down theJapanese archipelago. Earthquakes happen when it is jostled, such as by the catfishNamazu which dwells near it.Takemikazuchi is said to restrainNamazu, but he occasionally lets his guard down.
A{{defnkami of vegetation, grass and fields. She is considered a protector of fields and an ancestor ofherbs. She is a daughter ofIzanagi andIzanami, and the sister ofŌyamatsumi, who is also her husband.}}
The Japanese version of the Chineseqilin, which is partdragon and partdeer with antlers, fish scales and an ox's tail. Said to be a protective creature and the guardian of the metal element.
A goddess of good fortune, associated with beauty, happiness and fertility. One of theSeven Lucky Gods, though she is sometimes omitted in favor ofFukurokuju.
A mysterious enchantress (駒妖) from theKansai region who appears during full moons to challenge people to games ofōgi, a variant ofShogi. Those who accept her challenge are said to have their souls transformed intoyūrei (ghosts). Modern sightings have been reported in urban areas.[2]
Akami of compass directions, who changes position with the year, lunar month, and season. Whatever position he chooses is deemed unlucky, so calendars are made so people can avoid that position.
A general term for the first fivekami to come into existence when the universe was born but before the heavens and the earth took shape, born without any procreation.
A Japanesechimera with the features of the beasts from the Chinese Zodiac: a rat's head, rabbit ears, ox horns, a horse's mane, a rooster's comb, a sheep's beard, a dragon's neck, a back like that of a boar, a tiger's shoulders and belly, monkey arms, a dog's hindquarters, and a snake's tail.
Akoto that has come to life as atsukumogami and now has a leering, demonic face and a mane made out of strings but generally stays put and does nothing.
The malevolent spirit of a woman whose face was disfigured into aGlasgow smile, who attacks people to inflict identical mutilations upon those few she doesn't kill outright.
A human-facedcow that gave a prophecy of either an epidemic or a bountiful harvest and instructed that its likeness be hung in various places for good luck.
Thekami of trees, worshipped on the occasion of roof-raising ceremonies and the blessing of new houses. He is either the son ofIzanagi andIzanami orShinatsuhiko, and the brother ofWatatsumi andŌyamatsumi.
Thekami who mediated betweenIzanagi andIzanami after the former escaped fromYomi. For this reason she is considered the goddess of marriage and harmony.
One of two gods born after the heavens and earth took shape, born from a reed-shoot growing between heaven and earth. He is ahitorigami and the first of thekamiyonanayo, the seven generations ofkami that culminate inIzanagi andIzanami.
The general term forkami of the land, who live on earth, as opposed to theamatsukami who live inTakamagahara. They are considered personifications of the land, and are thusly associated with geographical areas along with their inhabitants. Non-royal families also view them as their ancestors.
The creation of the primordial landmassOnogoroshima byIzanagi andIzanami, followed by the creation of the islands of Japan. Thekamiumi, where the land'skami were born, came afterward.
A waterkami born fromIzanami's urine as she died, tasked with her dying breath with pacifyingKagu-tsuchi should he become violent and dousing his fires. She is the sister ofWakumusubi, who was born the same way.
A giantcatfish dwelling beneath the earth, near thekaname-ishi, the rock that holds down the Japanese archipelago, that causes earthquakes when it moves.Takemikazuchi is said to restrain it, but he occasionally lets his guard down.
A Japanese chimera with the head of amonkey, the body of araccoon dog, the legs of atiger, and asnake-headed tail. It plagued the Emperor with nightmares in theHeike Monogatari.
A vicious humanlike monster whose head detaches from its body, often confused with the much more peacefulrokurokubi, whose neck merely extends indefinitely.
The great-great-grandson ofSusanoo and father ofAme-no-Fuyukinu, who is famous for expandingIzumo Province by dragging a piece of the land ofSilla over to it. He also gave the province its name, naming it after himself.
Thekami of intelligence and wisdom, called upon to provide good counsel in the deliberations of the heavenly deities. He is a son ofTakamimusubi and the brother ofFutodama andTakuhadachiji-hime.
The primordial landmassIzanagi andIzanami raised from the sea with the spearAme-no-Nuboko. They then built a palace on top with a great column in the middle. When they had done this, they went around the column in opposite directions, and when they met on the opposite side, they were married and they began to give birth to the islands of Japan.
A phenomenon where a pack of wolves chase a hunter up a tree, then stack themselves to form a ladder for the largest wolf to climb in order to get to the hunter.
The poison gas-spewing "killing stone" whichTamamo-no-Mae's spirit transformed into upon her final defeat in the form ofHoji, until her repentant spirit's eventual exorcism. The stone has since broken, much to the dismay of those unaware of her change of heart.
A group of seven ghosts told of inShikoku and theChūgoku region who sicken the living, seeking to ascend to Heaven by forcing their victims to take their place.
Physical objects worshipped at or nearShinto shrines as repositories where spirits orkami reside. They are not thekami themselves, just temporary repositories which make thekami accessible for humans to worship. They are, by nature and necessity,yorishiro, objects capable of attractingkami.
A creature which peeks in through the skylights of old houses and reports any evil deeds it sees to the gods that determine people's life span, which is adjusted accordingly.
The spirits of those ancestors that have been the target of special memorial services that have been held for them at certain fixed times after their death.
Thekami of sweets, who was sent byEmperor Suinin to fetch a magical fruit from the land ofTokoyo no kuni. He returned after ten years to find that the Emperor had died. He gave some of the fruit to the Emperor's widow and offered the rest of the fruit at the Emperor's tomb, then died of grief.
The abode of the heavenlykami (theamatsukami), typically depicted as being in the sky and connected to the earth below by a floating bridge calledAme-no-ukihashi, which is guarded bySarutahiko Ōkami.
A sword god, a god of thunder, and a participant in the first recordedsumo wrestling match, which was againstTakeminakata. He is the son ofAme-no-ohabari via the spilled blood ofKagu-tsuchi. He also subduedAmatsu-Mikaboshi and tries to keep the giant catfishNamazu from causing earthquakes at thekaname-ishi, the rock that holds down the Japanese archipelago.
The vengeful spirit of a slain schoolgirl, with a half upper-torso body, who goes around killing people by slicing them in half at the waist using ascythe, thusly mimicking her own disfigurement.
A mythical realm where variouskami and spirits of ancestors live with eternal youth.Tajimamori was sent here byEmperor Suinin to fetch a magical fruit.
An animatedtea caddy thatMatsunaga Hisahide used to bargain a peace withOda Nobunaga. It is now understood to mean any 100-year-old inanimate object that has come to life.
AShinto guardian spirit orkami of a particular place, prayed to for a number of reasons, such as success in endeavors, good harvests and protection from sickness.
Akami of food who produced food by vomiting or defecating, slain by eitherSusanoo orTsukuyomi, who either feared she had poisoned the food by producing it in that manner or felt the act was disrespectful. The version where Tsukuyomi was the killer explains why the sun and the moon are not seen together asAmaterasu, who heard of Ukemochi's passing, never wanted to meet her killer again, or he hides during the day out of fear of her wrath.
Uma-no-ashi
A tree with hidden horse's legs that kick passersby before withdrawing into the leaves to hide.
The fourth deity to come into existence when the heavens and the earth took shape, born from a reed-like object that appeared between heaven and earth. He is ahitorigami and one of the fivekotoamatsukami.
A goddess of the rising sun, either a daughter or little sister ofAmaterasu. Some say she was the maiden killed whenSusanoo threw a flayed horse at Amaterasu's loom.
A dragon or sea monster comparable to analligator orcrocodile (or perhaps a shark, given the kanji). A related word has been applied to thesaltwater crocodile.
The collective name for eight thunder deities, said to be either the maggots onIzanami's corpse or some of the forces she sent to pursueIzanagi as he fledYomi. Each one represents a different type of storm.
Small mountain-dwelling creatures that create echoes.
Yama-inu
A doglike mountain spirit that may appear to travelers on mountain roads. It may be friendly, or may attack and kill the traveler, depending on the tale (also see theJapanese wolf).
Thekami of mountains. There are two types: gods of the mountains who are worshipped by hunters, woodcutters, and charcoal burners or gods of agriculture who come down from the mountains and are worshipped by farmers. They are generally considered to be female.
The eight-headed dragon/serpent monster slain by the godSusanoo to rescueKushinadahime, who would become his first wife. He found the swordKusanagi-no-Tsurugi in one of its tails and gave it toAmaterasu to settle an old grievance between them.
A phenomenon where a house or furniture shakes for no reason, once thought to be a prank by house-dwellingyōkai but now considered apoltergeist-like phenomenon.
Akami of water, agriculture, hot springs and nation-building. She is the wife ofTakeminakata, but very little is known about her. Some say she is a daughter ofWatatsumi, but no one is sure.
The giant three-leggedcrow ofAmaterasu that guidedEmperor Jimmu through the mountains to the land that would become his kingdom and is seen as a god of guidance. It is generally accepted as an incarnation ofKamotaketsunumi no Mikoto.
Objects capable of attractingkami, giving them a space to occupy during worship. They are used during ceremonies to call thekami for worship. Once ayorishiro actually houses akami, it is called ashintai.
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