The Shinto faith in Japan is deeply anchored in nature, with a solid conviction that kami, or Japanese gods, may be found virtually anywhere. With the arrival of Buddhism in Japan, a new set of venerable deities was introduced to the pantheon of deities to worship. While there are several deities, we will focus on ten that are widely portrayed in Japan.

When discussing Japanese gods and goddesses, it is important to remember that most mythology and pantheon are rooted in Shinto – one of Japan’s primary faiths.

And, like Hinduism, Shinto, or Kami-no-Michi, ‘the Way of the Gods,’ is a polytheistic style of religion that arose from Japan’s extremely diverse society throughout history. In essence, Shinto, which has no stated origin or specified precepts, may be seen as the progression of Yayoi culture’s indigenous animalistic beliefs (300 BC – 300 AD), which were further impacted by Buddhism and even Hinduism centuries.

Given the nature of these regional folklores (which are intertwined with the tales of respected entities of Buddhism and Hinduism), the Japanese gods and goddesses are deities who are primarily centered on the kami – the legendary spirits and supernatural creatures of the country. In terms of history, the earliest of these myths were established in writing form by the early 8th century, acting as a standardized (or, at the very least, generic) pattern of the Shinto pantheon throughout the majority of Japan.

Discover the ancient Shinto and Buddhist gods such as Amaterasu, Izanagi, Susanoo, Tsukuyomi, Ebisu, Raijin, and others by exploring the pantheon Japanese Gods.

Izanami and Izanagi 

izanagi and izanami

The primordial Japanese gods are present in the Shinto Japanese story, as they are in other creation myths. The duo of brother and sister, known as Izanagi (Izanagi no Mikoto or ‘he who invites’) and Izanami (Izanami no Mikoto or ‘she who invites’), are regarded as the heavenly creatures who restored order to the sea of chaos beneath heaven by constructing the first landmass – the island of Onogoro. Surprisingly, most legends agree that they were ordered to do so by a previous generation of kami (divine creatures) who lived on the plain of heaven.

Unfortunately, during the difficult creation process, Izanami perished from the scorching anguish of giving birth to Kagutsuchi – the Japanese fire god – and is therefore banished to the underworld.

The bereaved Izanagi accompanied his sister Izanami to the underworld. He even persuaded the older generation of Japanese gods to let her return to the realm of the living. But, frustrated from the lengthy wait, the brother takes a premature peek at the sister’s ‘undead’ status, which was more comparable to a rotting, decomposing corpse.

Izanagi was driven out of the underworld by a swarm of enraged thunder kami linked to this body. He narrowly avoided Yomi by blocking the door with a massive stone. A cleansing ritual ensued, during which Izanagi unintentionally created even more Japanese gods and goddesses, the Mihashira-no-Uzunomiko, such as Amaterasu – the sun goddess born from the washing of his left eye; Tsuki-Yomi – the moon god born from the washing of his right eye; and Susanoo – the storm god born from his nose. For that reason, cleaning (harai) is a vital component of the ritual before visiting the sacred shrines in Shinto culture.

Also Read, The Asgard of Strong and Brute Norse Gods

Amaterasu

amaterasu

Amaterasu or Amaterasu Omikami (‘the magnificent kami who shines from heaven’), also known by her honorific title Hirume-no-Muchi-no-kami (‘the big sun of the kami’), is revered as the sun goddess and ruler of the kami realm — the High Celestial Plain or Takama no Hara. In many respects, as Queen of the kami, she embodies the rising sun’s grandeur, order, and purity, while also serving as the mythological progenitor of the Japanese Imperial Dynasty (thus alluding to their mythical lineage in the Japanese culture). Her name alludes to her role as the ruler of the Japanese gods, with her father, Izanagi — the creator of numerous Japanese gods and goddesses – explicitly granting her rulership.

In this regard, one of the most important Shinto tales describes how Amaterasu, as one of the Mihashira-no-Uzunomiko, was born from the cleaning of Izanagi’s left eye (as mentioned in our first entry). Another famous legend describes Amaterasu locking herself in a cave after a violent argument with Susanoo, the storm deity. Only after a series of pleasant distractions and pranks devised by the other Japanese gods was, she persuaded to come out of the cave, resulting in the return of brilliant sunshine. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, her brilliant aura (epitomizing the blazing sun) was veiled, leaving the regions in darkness.

In terms of cultural lineage, the Japanese Imperial Dynasty is mythically traced from Amaterasu’s grandson, Ninigi-no-Mikoto. He was offered the rulership of Earth by his grandmother. On the historical front, Amaterasu (or her counterpart god) has traditionally been revered in Japan, with many noble families claiming descent from the sun deity. However, in line with the ideals of Shinto state religion, her status was boosted during the Meiji Restoration.

Susanoo 

susannoo

Susanoo was a member of the Mihashira-no-Uzunomiko triad, born from the nose of Izanagi, the father of Japanese gods, and therefore a brother to both Amaterasu and Tsukiyomi. Susanoo was seen as a temperamental, unkempt kami prone to wild mood swings — referring to his control over the ever-changing storms. Mythically, his kindness (and malice) extends to the waters and breezes along the coast — where many of his temples are found in South Japan.

In Shinto legend, Susanoo is frequently praised as the cunning hero. He overcame the wicked dragon (or monster serpent) Yamata-no-Orochi by chopping off all ten of its heads after consuming them with beer. Following the encounter, he retrieved the legendary sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. Also, he earned the hand of the woman he saved from the dragon.

On the other hand, Susanoo is presented in a rather unfavorable light (representing the storm god’s chaotic nature), particularly regarding his feud with Amaterasu, the kami’s leader and sun goddess. On one occasion, their rivalry became severe, with the wrathful Susanoo going on a rampage and ruining the sun goddess’s rice fields, and even murdering one of her servants. As a result, the enraged Amaterasu fled into a dark cave, removing her divine light from the universe while the ever-boisterous Susanoo left heaven.

Tsukiyomi 

tsukiyomi

In contrast to many Western myths, the Moon deity in Japanese Shinto is a man, known as Tsukiyomi no Mikoto or simply Tsukiyomi (Tsuku presumably referring to ‘moon, month’ and Yomi relating to ‘reading’). He is one of the Mihashira-no-Uzunomiko, born from the washing of Izanagi’s right eye, making him the sun goddess Amaterasu’s brother. In other tales, he is born from a white copper mirror held in Izanagi’s right hand.

In the mythological story, Tsukiyomi, the Japanese god of the moon, married his sister Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, enabling the unification of the sun and the moon in the same sky. Tsukiyomi’s romance with Uke Mochi, the goddess of food, was quickly destroyed. When the moon god witnessed Uke Mochi spitting out different food items, he reportedly committed the horrible crime out of disgust. In reaction, Amaterasu separated from Tsukiyomi by traveling to another region of the sky, separating day and night altogether.

Yebisu 

Yebisu

As previously stated, Hiruko (‘Leach Child’), the first child of the primordial couple Izanagi and Izanami, was born malformed due to the mythological story of a violation their marriage ceremony. However, in other stories, Hiruko was eventually associated with the Japanese god Yebisu, a goddess of fisherman and good fortune (perhaps by the Middle Ages). In this sense, the story of Yebisu may have been altered to account for his divine (and rather indigenous) genealogy among the Japanese kami.

In essence, Yebisu (or Hiruko) was supposed to be cast adrift in the seas at the age of three after being born without bones. Despite this unethical ordeal, the kid, by chance, came ashore at the home of one Ebisu Saburo. The kid subsequently grew up known as Ebisu or Yebisu, becoming the patron Japanese god of fishermen, children, and, most significantly, prosperity and fortune. In terms of the latter, Yebisu is frequently regarded as one of the major deities of the Seven Gods of Fortune (Shichifukujin), whose tale is inspired by local tradition rather than foreign influence.

Despite his various difficulties, Yebisu retains a cheerful demeanor (commonly referred to as the “laughing deity”) and wears a tall, pointed hat folded in the center known as Kazaori Eboshi. Intriguingly, Yebisu is also the deity of jellyfish, owing to his early boneless shape.

Kagutsuchi

Kagutsuchi

Kagutsuchi (or Homusubi – “he who initiates fire”), the Japanese god of fire, was another offspring of the primordial Izanagi and Izanami. In a sad turn of events, his fire essence burnt his own mother, Izanami, resulting in her death and journey to the underworld.

In a fit of wrath and vengeance, his father Izanagi severed Kagutsuchi’s head — and the spilled blood resulted in the birth of even more kami, including martial thunder gods, mountain gods, and even a dragon god. Simply put, Kagutsuchi was considered the forefather of numerous faraway mighty and powerful deities. He even spawned the invention of iron and weaponry in Japan.

In terms of history and culture, Kagutsuchi, as a god of fire, was understandably viewed as a (possible) destroyer of Japanese houses and constructions constructed of wood and other combustible materials. To summarize, in Shinto religion, he becomes the center of several appeasing ceremonies, one of which is the Ho-Shizume-no-matsuri, an imperial tradition meant to fend off the devastating effects of Kagutsuchi for six months.

Also Read, The Great Greek Gods who Reside in Mount Olympus

Inari 

inari

Inari, one of the most respected kami in the Shinto pantheon, is the Japanese God of rice (or rice field), alluding to the link with wealth, agriculture, and abundance of products. He is typically portrayed as dual-gender (sometimes man and sometimes female). In terms of the former, Inari was revered as the patron deity of merchants, tradespeople, entertainers, and even swordsmiths. In certain mythological stories, he/she is regarded as the offspring of Susanoo, the storm deity.

Interestingly, Inari was connected with many different Japanese kami, matching the deity’s ambiguous gender (who was often shown as an old man, but in other instances, was depicted as a lady with a fox head or surrounded by foxes). For example, in Shinto traditions, Inari was linked with beneficent spirits such as Hettsui-no-kami (goddess of the kitchen) and Uke Mochi (goddess of food). However, in Buddhist traditions, Inari is revered as the Chinjugami (temple guardian) and Dakiniten – who was derived from the Indian Hindu-Buddhist deity of Dakini or heavenly goddess.

Hachiman

hachiman

Hachiman (also known as Yahata no kami) exemplifies early medieval Japan’s syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism. The deity, revered as the god of battle, archery, culture, and even divination, may have developed (or grown in significance) with building different Buddhist temples around the kingdom after the 9th century AD. To that end, Hachiman, the god of battle, is also revered as a bodhisattva (Japanese Buddhist deity) who serves as the staunch protector of countless temples across Japan.

In terms of his inherent connection to battle and culture, Hachiman was believed to have his avatars carry on the heritage and impact of the growing Japanese society. In that manner, one of his incarnations was Empress Jingu, who conquered Korea. Another was reincarnated as her son Emperor Ojin (approximately late 3rd century AD). He welcomed Chinese and Korean intellectuals to his court. Hachiman was also hailed as the patron god of the powerful Minamoto clan (approximately 11th century AD), who pushed their political cause and claimed descent from the semi-legendary Ojin.

One famous story holds that Hachiman protected Japan from Mongol invasions by unleashing a storm on the incoming fleet — a feat subsequently known as the kamikaze.

Fujin and Raijin

raijin, fuijin,

In terms of storms and duality of character, Raijin and Fujin are seen as strong kami of the elements of nature, which may be kind or unfavorable to mortals’ plights. To that purpose, Raijin is the thunder and lightning deity who releases his storms by brandishing his hammer and banging his drums. Surprisingly, Raijin is shown with three fingers, one for the past, one for the present, and one for the future.

Fujin, on the other hand, is a terrifying monster kami of the winds who carries a sack of gales and gusts on his shoulders. According to legend, Fujin protected Japan from Mongol invasions by releasing a storm on the incoming fleet, which became known as the kamikaze (‘divine wind’). On the other hand, other Samurai-related stories attribute it to Hachiman, the deity of war (discussed later in the article). Interestingly, there is a theory that Fujin was influenced by the Greco-Buddhist deity Wardo (venerated throughout the Silk Route), who was derived from the Greek wind god Boreas.

Also Read, The Strongest Gods of Egyptian Pantheon

Bishamon

bishamon

Bishamon, also known as Bishamonten, is a Shichi-fuku-jin in Japanese mythology. He is associated with the Buddhist protector of the north, Kubera, or Vairavaa. Bishamon is always shown in full armor, wielding a spear and holding a tiny pagoda. He is the Buddhist patron of soldiers and the defender of the upright.

He is commemorated by the temple city of Shigi in Ji (west-central Honshu). According to legend, it was created by Shtoku Taishi (AD 573–621), who credited a Buddhist victory to Bishamon’s help.

Shichi-Fuku-Jin (Japanese for “Seven Gods of Luck”) is a collection of seven prominent Japanese deities connected with good fortune and pleasure. The seven are derived from diverse sources but have been grouped together since the 16th century. Bishamon, Daikoku, Ebisu, Fukurokuju, Jurjin, Hotei, and Benten, the sole girl in the group, are their names.