Japanese Symbol for
神kami
god · deity · divine spirit
Readings
Meaning
God, deity, divine spirit, supernatural being. In Shinto, kami are spirits that inhabit natural phenomena — mountains, rivers, trees, and even exceptional people can be kami.
Example words
神社
jinja
Shinto shrine
神話
shinwa
mythology, legend
神様
kami-sama
God (honorific), divine being
神秘
shinpi
mystery, the mystical
Japan's Shinto tradition recognizes an estimated 8 million kami (八百万の神, yaoyorozu no kami — literally "eight million gods"). Unlike monotheistic gods, kami are understood as spirits present in nature and human life rather than all-powerful creators. The same kanji is used when Japanese people exclaim "神！" (kami!) — slang meaning "godlike" or "amazing."
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