Izanagi

Today I wanted to write about Izanagi, a Japanese god of creation and life. He’s married to Izanami, together they had many children including: Amaterasu-Ōmikami, Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, Susanoo-no-Mikoto, and Ebisu. Izanami and Izanagi used a jade spear to fish up the Japanese archipelago. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanagi?wprov=sfla1

Binbōgami

Today I wanted to write about Binbōgami, a Japanese house spirit who brings poverty and misfortune. The Binbōgami often appear as tiny old men with broken shoes holding a handfan and kendama. The only way to remove a Binbōgami from a home is to show them hospitality by giving them an offering of miso. Sources:

Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto

For the full moon tonight I wanted to write about Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, a Japanese moon deity. Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto is a child of Izanami and Izanagi. They are sometimes the spouse of Amaterasu-Ōmikami, however the two are not allowed to see eachother as Amaterasu is mad of Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto for killing Ukemochi. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto?wprov=sfla1

Toyotama-hime

Today I wanted to write about Toyotama-hime, a Japanese sea goddess. She’s a daughter of Watatsumi. She was the wife of Hoori, before leaving him after catching him saying, and grandmother of Jimmu-tennō; through her son Ugayafukiaezu. After leaving Hoori she returned to leaving in the sea. She’s often compared to Oto-Hime, a mermaid like

Vaiśravaṇa

Today for the Holidays I wanted to write about Vaiśravaṇa, also called Bishamonten, a Buddhist war deity. Vaiśravaṇa is one of the Four Heavenly Kings and one of the Seven Gods of Fortune. Vaiśravaṇa was known to regularly descend to earth to protect Siddhārtha Gautama. His earliest sites of veneration were trees, however now he

Daikokuten

Today for the Holidays I wanted to write about Daikokuten, a genderfluid Japanese deity of wealth. Daikokuten is a syncretic figure between Mahakala (Shiva) and Ōkuninushi. They were later conflated with Parvati as they became more of an ambiguously gendered deity. The yang wood rat and rats in general are sacred to Daikokuten. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daikokuten?wprov=sfla1

Kisshōten

Today for the Holidays I wanted to write about Kisshōten, a Japanese goddess of beauty and happiness. Kisshōten is one of the Seven Gods of Fortune. She is also part of a trinity with Benzaiten and Daikokuten. Worship of Kisshōten originally came to Japan from India as a Buddhist form of Lakshmi. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kissh%C5%8Dten?wprov=sfla1

Jurōjin

Today for the Holidays I wanted to write about Jurōjin, a Japanese god of longevity and wisdom. Jurōjin is one of the Seven Gods of Fortune. Jurōjin is sometimes said to exist in the same body as Fukurokuju. He was brought to Japan from China originally as the Old Man of the South Pole. The

Tajimamori

Today I wanted to write about Tajimamori, a Japanese god of sweets. Tajimamori was asked by the Emperor to get the magic fruit tokijiku no kagu no konomi, this journey took ten years and my the time he returned the Emperor was dead. Tajimamori gave half to the Emperor’s widow and left the other half

Acala

Today I wanted to write about Acala, one of the Wisdom kings in Buddhism, who takes a more wrathful approach to Dharma by removing obstacles and destroyi Acala is the messenger of Vairocana. Acala’s worship is most prevalent in Japanese Buddhism where he is often venerated as the Honzon of many temples and shrines. He

Fukurokuju

Today I wanted to write about Fukurokuju, on of the Seven [Japanese] Gods of Fortune. Fukurokuju is specifically a god of wisdom and longevity. Fukurokuju is the grandfather of Jurōjin, both of them were hermits living in China during their mortal lives. He’s often synchronized with the Taoist god Xuanwu, and Old Man of the

Yamata-no-Orochi

Today for Dragon month I wanted to write about Yamata no Orochi, a Japanese sea dragon. Yamata no Orochi was slayed by Susanoo-no-Mikoto when he was banished from the heavens after playing a trick on Amaterasu-Ōmikami. Orochi is often compared with other draconic monsters from Eurasian pantheons including, Jörmungandr, Veles, Zmeu, Illuyanka, Typhon, Lernaean Hydra,

Futodama

Today I wanted to write about Futodama (Ame-no-Futodama-no-Mikoto), the patron Kami of the Inbe clan. After Amaterasu-Ōmikami left the cave, ending the darkness, Futodama used hemp ropes to prevent her from re-entering the cave. Futodama is worshipped at the Awa Shrine in the Daijingū neighborhood of the city of Tateyama in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. His

Inari Ōkami

Today, for pride, I wanted to write about Inari Ōkami, a genderfluid Kami of rice, fertility, foxes, tea, agriculture, alcohol, merchants, swordsmiths, and success. Inari first descended to Japan in the form of a young woman on a white fox to bring rice to Japan during a famine. Being a shapeshifter, Inari shows up in

Guanyin

Today for Pride Month I wanted to write about Guanyin, an androgynous Buddhist Bodhisattva of mercy, healing, travel, and the protector of fishermen, women and children, among many other things. Guanyin is a child of Miaozhuang Wang who wanted them to marry for money. After years of an unfulfilling marriage, they turned to a life

Kushinadahime

Today I wanted to write about Kushinadahime, a Shinto goddess of rice. Kushinadahime is the wife of Susanoo-no-Mikoto, and mother of Ōkuninushi. Kushinadahime was born on earth. Her parents were farmers who had eight daughters. However, seven of their daughters were eaten by Yamata no Orochi. When Susanoo-no-Mikoto killed Yamata no Orochi, Kushinadahime’s parents married

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Today I wanted to write Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a Japanese samurai who was later deified as one of the Kami. He was born into the peasant class, which he eventually climbed out of my joining the imperial regent and used his power to launch the Japanese invasion of Korea, as well as various other campaigns that

Kangiten

Today, I wanted to write about Kangiten, a Japanese–Buddhist Deva of success and bliss. Kangiten is one if the 3000 children of Uma, they were born a demon and feasted on human flesh before being transformed by Avalokiteśvara. They’re often compared to Ganesha, a Hindu god also depicted as an elephant. Kangiten is part of

Ame-no-Tajikarao

Today I wanted to write about Ame-no-Tajikarao, a Japanese god of agriculture, sport, and strength. He’s a son of Amaterasu-Ōmikami and/or Omoikane. He was one of the gods to help return Amaterasu (the sun) to the world after she hid in the cave. He is venerated at the The Ise Grand Shrine, and thirteen other

Hoori

Today I wanted to write about Hoori (Hikohohodemi no Mikoto/Yamasachi-hiko), a minor Japanese god associated with hunting and grain. Hoori is the youngest son of Ninigi-no-Mikoto and Konohanasakuya-hime. He is the grandfather of Jimmu-tennō. Hoori once lost his brother Hoderi’s fish hook, when Hoori swam down to find it he met Toyotama-hime, a daughter of

Annei-tennō

Today I wanted to write about Annei-tennō/Shikitsuhikotamatemi-no-Mikoto, a legendary Japanese Emperor who is venerated as a Kami. He was the son of Suizei-tennō, making him the grandson of Jimmu-tennō the first Emperor. Annei-tennō had three children, one of which was Itoku-tennō. Annei-tennō is a descendant of many Kami including: Ugayafukiaezu no Mikoto, Hoori, Toyotama-hime, Ninigi-no-Mikoto,

Susanoo-no-Mikoto

As it’s officially spooky season I wanted to write about Susanoo-no-Mikoto, a Shinto Kami of storms, the seas, agriculture, the harvest, pestilence, disease, and death. He’s a son of Izanami and Izanagi. His main consort is Kushinadahime. Some of his children include Ukanomitama, and Toshigami. Susanoo-no-Mikoto is also well-known for slaying Yamata-no-Orochi, an eight headed