Kami: Japan's 8 million gods (and why a tree can be one of them)
- DAI YOKAI
- Jan 1
- 5 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
By Jérémy, Dai Yokai founder · @dai.yokai Published: January 2026 · Updated: May 2026
Key takeaways
A kami (神) is not a "god" in the Western sense. It is anything that inspires sacred awe: a sun goddess, a fox, a mountain, an ancestor, a thunderstorm
Japan has "8 million kami" (Yaoyorozu no Kami). The number means "innumerable," not literally 8 million
The key difference: a kami is worshipped at a shrine (jinja). A yokai is feared or tolerated
Some kami physically resemble yokai: Raijin (thunder god) has fangs and claws like an Oni, but he is a deity
What is a kami?
The kanji 神 (kami) means "that which is above," "that which inspires sacred awe." The great scholar Motoori Norinaga (1730-1801) gave the most cited definition: "Anything that possesses eminent power and inspires reverential awe, whether noble or terrible, good or evil."
This is where it diverges radically from the West. In Western theology, a god is omnipotent, moral, separate from the world. A kami is in the world. It is the world. A waterfall can be a kami. An ancient cedar wrapped in a sacred rice-straw rope (shimenawa) is a kami. Mount Fuji is a kami. The Emperor of Japan was considered a living kami until 1946.
Shinto (神道, shintō, "the way of the kami") has no Bible, no prophet, no commandments. It is an animist practice: everything in nature possesses a spirit, a sacred force. Kami are not good or evil by nature. They are powerful. A benevolent kami can become destructive if disrespected. A terrifying kami can protect if properly venerated.
Why "8 million gods"?
The expression Yaoyorozu no Kami (八百万の神) literally says "8 million kami." But the number is symbolic: it means "uncountable." Japan does not have 8 million catalogued deities. It has potentially infinite ones, because anything can become a kami.
The logic: if an object, place, or natural being inspires enough awe or reverence, it receives a shimenawa (sacred rope) and becomes a venerated kami. This is why sacred ropes appear around boulders, waterfalls, ancient trees, and even sumo wrestlers (the yokozuna wears a shimenawa during ceremonies because he embodies near-divine force).
Kami vs yokai: the question everyone asks
It is the most common confusion. I have a full yokai guide covering the other side of the question. Here is the short version from the kami perspective.
Trait | Kami (神) | Yokai (妖怪) |
Nature | Deity, sacred force | Supernatural creature |
Human response | Worship (prayer, offerings) | Fear, negotiation, avoidance |
Location | Shrine (jinja), home altar (kamidana) | Mountains, rivers, roads, haunted houses |
Morality | Neither good nor evil, but powerful | Neither good nor evil, but unpredictable |
Can you become one? | Yes (ancestors, emperors, heroes) | Yes (aging animals, century-old objects) |
The line blurs. Raijin looks like an Oni (fangs, claws, red skin) but is a kami. Tengu were disruptive yokai in the 9th century, then some were "promoted" to protective kami. The Kitsune is a yokai when it plays tricks, and the messenger of the kami Inari when it protects harvests. Same creature, two statuses depending on context.
The major kami to know
Amaterasu (天照): sun goddess
Supreme kami of Shinto. Mythical ancestor of the Japanese imperial line. Her founding myth: she hides in a cave out of anger, plunging the world into darkness. The other kami must trick her into coming out. It is the most important story in the Kojiki (712 CE). Full guide: Amaterasu.
Inari (稲荷): kami of prosperity
Kami of rice, commerce, and fertility. Messengers are foxes (Kitsune). Over 30,000 Inari shrines in Japan, including Fushimi Inari-taisha in Kyoto with its thousands of red torii gates. Full guide: Inari Okami.
Raijin (雷神): thunder god
Born from the decomposing body of Izanami (the creator goddess who died giving birth to fire). Red skin, fangs, circle of taiko drums on his back. Three fingers per hand (past, present, future). He steals children's belly buttons (Japanese mothers still tell children to cover their navels during storms). Full guide: Raijin.
Fujin (風神): wind god
Raijin's eternal brother. Green skin, windswept hair, wind bag (fūtai) across his shoulders. Four fingers per hand (the 4 cardinal directions). His iconography was born in ancient Greece (the god Boreas) and traveled across Asia via the Silk Road before reaching Japan. Together, Fujin and Raijin are the Kamikaze ("divine winds") that destroyed the Mongol fleet in 1274 and 1281. Full guide: Fujin.
Ryūjin (龍神): dragon god of the sea
Kami of the oceans, master of tides. Lives in an underwater palace (Ryūgū-jō) and controls the Tide Jewels. The Dragon Ryū is both yokai and kami, depending on context.
Where are kami worshipped?
Shinto shrine (jinja, 神社). Recognizable by its torii (gate), usually red or orange, at the entrance. The torii marks the boundary between the profane world and the sacred. Purify your hands at the fountain (temizuya), clap twice to get the kami's attention, bow, pray.
Home altar (kamidana, 神棚). A small wooden altar in the house, often placed high, facing south or east. Offerings of rice, sake, salt, and water. Many Japanese households still have one.
Nature itself. A boulder with a shimenawa. A centuries-old tree. A waterfall. The summit of Mount Fuji. Kami do not need walls.
FAQ
What is the difference between a kami and a yokai?
A kami is a Shinto deity worshipped at a shrine. A yokai is a supernatural creature feared or tolerated. But the line blurs: Raijin resembles an Oni but is a kami. Some Tengu are venerated at shrines. A powerful enough yokai can be "promoted" to kami.
How many kami are there in Japan?
The traditional expression says "8 million" (Yaoyorozu), but the number means "innumerable." Anything can become a kami if it inspires enough sacred awe: a tree, a boulder, a mountain, an ancestor, a champion sumo wrestler.
Can a kami be evil?
A kami is neither good nor evil by nature. It is powerful. A benevolent kami can become destructive if disrespected. A terrifying kami (like Raijin) can protect if properly venerated. It is the relationship, not the nature, that determines a kami's behavior.
Does Shinto have a holy book?
Not in the sense of a Bible. The two foundational texts are the Kojiki (古事記, "Record of Ancient Matters," 712 CE) and the Nihon Shoki (日本書紀, "Chronicles of Japan," 720 CE). They narrate the creation of Japan by the kami Izanagi and Izanami but contain no moral commandments. Shinto is a practice, not a doctrine.
Can tourists visit a Shinto shrine?
Yes, shrines are open to all. Basic etiquette: purify your hands at the fountain (temizuya), bow before the torii, clap twice at the altar and bow. No need to believe: the gesture of respect is enough.