View source for List of Japanese deities

{{nosources|date=November 2012}}
This is a list of [[Deity|divinities]] native to Japanese beliefs and religious traditions. Many of these are from [[Shinto]], while others were imported via [[Buddhism]] or [[Taoism]] and "integrated" into [[Japanese mythology]] and [[Japanese folklore|folklore]].

==Shinto==

The following is a list of some of the major and minor deities called [[kami]] in [[Shinto]].  As it is often said that there are ''yaoyorozu-no-kami''  or 8 million kami (a representation of an infinite number), it would be impossible to list them all.

===Major kami===
'''[[Ama-no-Uzume]]''' 
:Commonly called '''Uzume''', she is the goddess of dawn and revelry, instrumental to the "missing sun legend" in Shinto.  She is also known as The Great Persuader and The Heavenly Alarming Female.

'''[[Amaterasu|Amaterasu-ō-mi-kami]]''' 
:Commonly called '''Amaterasu''', she is the goddess of the [[sun]] as well as the purported [[Ancestor|ancestress]] of the [[Imperial Household of Japan]].  Her full name means "Great Goddess" or "Great Spirit Who Shines in the Heavens"; she may also be referred to as '''Ōhiru-menomuchi-no-kami''' .  Due to her ties to the Imperial family, she is often considered (though not official) to be the "primary god" of Shinto.

'''[[Ame-no-Koyane]]''' 
:A male deity, he is considered the "First in Charge of Divine Affairs", as well as the aide to the first [[Emperor of Japan]].[http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=37]   He is also considered to be the ancestor of the [[Fujiwara family]].

'''[[Fujin]]''' 
:Also known as '''Kaminokaze''', he is the [[Japan]]ese god of the [[wind]] and one of the eldest Shinto gods, said to be present at the creation of the world.  He is often depicted as an [[Oni (Japanese folklore)|oni]] with a bag slung over his back.

'''[[Hachiman]]''' 
:Also known as '''Hachiman-shin''' or '''Yawata no kami''', he is seen as the god of [[war]].  Originally an [[agriculture|agricultural]] deity, he later became the guardian of the [[Minamoto]] clan.

'''[[Inari (god)|Inari]]''' 
:The god of [[rice]] and [[fertility]].  His messengers and symbolic animal are [[fox]]es.  He is often identified with the [[Buddhist]] deity [[Dakiniten]].  Though traditionally represented as a male, there are records of Inari appearing as a female as well.

'''[[Izanagi]]''' 
:The forefather of the gods, he is the first male as well as the god of [[Creation myth|creation]] and life.  He and his wife, Izanami, were responsible for the birth of the islands of Japan and many kami, though she died in childbirth.  Later, after his failed attempt to retrieve her from the [[Yomi|underworld]], he  [[sired]] Amaterasu, Susano and Tsukuyomi.

'''[[Izanami]]''' 
:Izanagi's wife and sister, she is the first female as well as the goddess of creation and [[death]].  She died shortly after the birth of [[Kagu-tsuchi]], and Izanami followed her to the [[underworld]], but failed to bring her back to the living world.  A [[Marital status|marital]] spat between the pair caused the cycle of life and death for all living beings.

'''[[Ninigi-no-Mikoto]]''' 
:Commonly called '''Ninigi''', he was the grandson of Amaterasu.  His great-grandson was Kamuyamato Iwarebiko, later to be known as [[Emperor Jimmu]], first emperor of Japan.

'''[[Raijin]]''' 
:Commonly called '''Raiden''', he is the god of [[thunder]] and [[lightning]], and is often paired with Fujin.   Raijin is usually depicted as an oni.

'''[[Ryujin|Ryūjin]]''' 
:Also known as '''Rinjin''', he is a [[Japanese dragon|dragon]], as well as god of the sea.  He resides in [[Ryūgū-jō]], his palace under the sea built out of red and white [[coral]], from where he controlled the [[tide]]s with magical ''tide jewels''.  His great-grandson would become Emperor Jimmu.

'''[[Susanoo|Susanoo-no-mikoto]]''' 
:He is the [[god]] of [[storms]] as well as in some cases the god of the sea.  He is also somewhat of a trickster god, as Japanese mythology extensively documents the "[[sibling rivalry]]" between him and Amaterasu.  Susanoo also was responsible for the slaying of the [[Lernaean Hydra|monster]] [[Orochi|Yamata-no-Orochi]] and the subsequent discovery of the sacred sword [[Kusanagi]].

'''[[Tenjin (kami)|Tenjin]]'''
:The god of scholarship, he is the deified [[Sugawara no Michizane]] (845-903), who was elevated to his position after dying in exile and subsequent disasters in [[Heian-kyō]] were attributed to his angered spirit. See [[Dazaifu, Fukuoka]]

'''[[Toyotama-hime]]''' 
:Also known as '''Otohime''', she was the daughter of Ryūjin and the grandmother of Jimmu.  It is said that after she gave birth to her son, she turned into a [[dragon]] and disappeared.

'''[[Tsukuyomi|Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto]]''' 
:Also known as '''Tsukiyomi''', '''Tsuki no kami''', '''Tsukiyomino mikoto''', and '''Tsukiyumi no mikoto''', he is the god of the [[moon]].  He killed the goddess of food, [[Uke Mochi]], out of disgust and anger in the way she had prepared a meal.  This  caused Amaterasu to never face him again, causing the sun and moon to be in different parts of the sky.

===Minor kami===
*'''[[Amatsu-Mikaboshi]]'''  the kami of all evil and stars who existed before Ama-No-Uzume
*'''[[Konohanasakuya-hime]]'''  the wife of Ninigi and daughter of Ohoyamatsumi, and great-grandmother of Jimmu.  She is also known as the goddess of [[Mount Fuji]].
*'''[[Ohoyamatsumi]]'''  an elder brother of [[Amaterasu]], and an important god who rules mountain, sea, and war, as well as the father of Konohanasakuya-hime.
*'''[[Sarutahiko]] Ohkami'''  a kami of the Earth that guided Ninigi to the Japanese islands
*'''[[Uke Mochi]],'''  sometimes called '''Ogetsu-hime-no-kami''', a goddess of food. After she had spat a fish, [[Vomit|vomited]] or [[Defecation|defecated]] game and coughed [[rice]], she was killed by a disgusted Tsukuyomi, or in some other versions, Susanoo.

==Buddhism==

'''[[Amitabha|Amida Nyorai]]''' 
:Commonly referred to as '''Amida-butsu''', he is the primary Buddha of the [[Pure Land]] school of [[Buddhism]].  He is also believed to be a Buddha who possesses [[Infinity|infinite]] meritorious qualities; who expounds the [[dharma]] in his pure paradise and is likely  the most well known and popular of the [[Five Wisdom Buddhas]].

'''[[Bodhidharma|Daruma]]''' 
:He is traditionally held in [[Buddhist mythology]] to be the founder of [[Zen]] Buddhism, as well as the founder of [[Shaolin kung fu|Shaolin]].  One legend reports that after years of meditation, Bodhidharma lost the usage of his eyes and appendages.  The [[Daruma doll]] was created in honor of this legend.

==The Seven Lucky Gods==
{{Main|Seven Lucky Gods}}

'''[[Benzaiten]]''' 
:Also known as '''Benten''', she is the goddess of everything that flows: [[word]]s (and knowledge, by extension), speech, eloquence, and music.  Said to be the third daughter of the dragon-king of [[Munetsuchi]], over the course of years she has gone from being a protective deity of Japan to one who bestows good fortune upon the state and its people. Derived from the equivalent goddess in Hinduism Goddess [[Saraswati]].

'''[[Vaisravana|Bishamonten]]''' 
:Also called '''Bishamon''' or '''Tamonten''', he is the god of fortunate [[warrior]]s and guards, as well as the punisher of [[criminal]]s.  Said to live halfway down the side of [[Mount Sumeru]], the small [[pagoda]] he carries symbolizes the divine treasure house that he both guards and gives away its contents.

'''[[Daikokuten]]''' 
:Often shortened to simply '''Daikoku''', he is variously considered to be the god of [[wealth]] (more specifically, the [[harvest]]), or of the [[household]] (particularly the kitchen). He is recognised by his wide face, smile, and flat black [[hat]]. He is often portrayed holding a golden [[mallet]], seated on bales of [[rice]], with [[mouse|mice]] nearby (which signify plentiful food).

'''[[Ebisu (mythology)|Ebisu]]''' 
:The sole member of the gods believed to have originated in Japan, he was originally known as '''Hiruko''', the first child of Izanagi and Izanami.  Said to be born without [[Bone|bones]], he eventually overcame his handicaps to become the mirthful and auspicious Ebisu (hence one of his titles, "The Laughing God").  He is often depicted holding a rod and a large red [[bream]] or [[sea bass]]. [[Jellyfish]] are also associated with this god and the [[fugu]] restaurants of Japan will often incorporate Yebisu in their motif.

'''[[Fukurokuju]]''' 
:Often confused with Jurōjin, he is the god of [[wisdom]] and [[longevity]] and said to be an incarnation of the [[Pole star|Southern Polestar]].  He is accompanied by a [[Crane (bird)|crane]] and a [[turtle]], which are considered to be symbols of longevity, and also sometimes accompanied by a black [[deer]].  The sacred book tied to his staff is said to contain the lifespan of every person on Earth.

'''[[Hotei]]''' 
:Best known in the Western world as the '''Laughing Buddha''', Hotei is likely the most popular of the gods.  His image graces many [[temple]]s, [[restaurant]]s, and [[amulet]]s. Originally based on a [[China|Chinese]] [[Ch'an|Chan]] monk, Hotei has become a deity of [[wikt:contentment|contentment]] and abundance.

'''[[Kichijouten|Kichijōten]]''' 
:Also known as '''Kisshōten''' or '''Kudokuten''', she is the "''eighth''" member of the Seven Gods of Fortune, a [[Taoism|Taoist]] [[deity]] often combined with the traditional members.  She is considered to be the [[goddess]] of [[happiness]], [[fertility]], and [[beauty]].

'''[[Juroujin|Jurōjin]]'''
:Also known as '''Gama''', he represents [[longevity]].  He is often seen with a [[fan (implement)|fan]] and a stave, and accompanied by a black deer.

==Related pages==
* [[Shinto]]

[[Category:Gods and goddesses of Japan| ]]
[[Category:Shinto|*]]
[[Category:Buddhism in Asia|*]]
[[Category:Lists of gods and goddesses]]