When speaking of Japanese culture and spirituality, there is one concept that cannot be overlooked:
the idea of the “Yaoyorozu no Kami”—the “eight million gods.”
Unlike the monotheistic concept of a single, absolute deity, the Japanese notion of divinity is extraordinarily free and diverse. Gods are believed to dwell in mountains, rivers, fire, wind, stones—even within the everyday lives and actions of people.
This worldview, encapsulated by the phrase “Yaoyorozu no Kami”, extends far beyond religious belief. It is deeply rooted in the Japanese way of seeing nature, understanding life and death, and shaping social values.
What lies at the heart of this philosophy?
And how do we continue to engage with it in the present day?
With these questions in mind, let us explore how the “eight million gods” have shaped the spirit of the Japanese people and the landscape of their everyday lives.
What Are the “Eight Million Gods”?
Yaoyorozu is an ancient Japanese expression meaning “countless” or “innumerable.”
Embedded in the word is an animistic worldview—the belief that gods reside in all things.
In ancient Japan, nature itself was regarded as sacred. There was a god of the mountains, a god of the rivers, a god of fire, a god of stones.
People believed that deities were not faraway beings dwelling in the heavens, but spirits that inhabited the ground beneath their feet and the winds that swept past them.
This reflects a uniquely Japanese polytheism in which gods do not exclude or dominate each other, but rather coexist while respecting each other’s domains.
For instance, there is the ta no kami, guardian of the rice fields; kōjin, the deity of the kitchen; and suijin, the water god who watches over wells. Each fulfills its role within human life, quietly woven into the fabric of daily existence.
When cutting down a tree, one offers a word of respect; before entering a mountain, one bows.
These gestures are not mere rituals—they embody a reverence for the invisible and a way of living in harmony with nature.
Living with the Gods
Japan is a land blessed with four distinct seasons and a richly varied natural environment.
Within this landscape, the Japanese have never regarded nature as a mere resource—but as a companion to be respected and cherished.
Shrines are often located halfway up or at the summit of mountains. This is because the mountain itself is seen as a yorishiro—a vessel through which a god manifests. Among these, Mount Fuji remains one of the most revered, a symbol of both volcanic power and divine beauty.
Oyama Shrine Peak Sanctuary – Located at the summit of Mt. Oyama in Tateyama, Toyama Prefecture, this shrine has long been the spiritual heart of the Tateyama faith.
During New Year’s, people offer rice, salt, and water to household altars. In spring, the rice field gods are welcomed down from the mountains; in autumn, they are thanked and sent back with offerings of gratitude.
These seasonal customs, accompanied by hands pressed together in prayer, shape the rhythm of a year lived in communion with the gods.
Shrines once stood at the heart of village life, and festivals were not just celebrations but matsurigoto—rituals that also served to govern and unite communities. Even forces beyond human control—natural disasters or epidemics—were honored as gods, with the hope that respect and ritual might lead to peaceful coexistence.
Gods That Live in the Japanese Heart
The gods of Japan are not fixed or rigid beings.
From well-known deities in ancient myths—like Amaterasu or Susanoo—to countless unnamed local gods worshipped across the land, their forms and characters vary widely.
Even the same god may be called by a different name, or seen in a different light, depending on the region or the people’s prayers.
In this way, a Japanese god is not an “unchanging entity,” but rather a mirror that reflects the thoughts and wishes of those who believe.
Even today, it’s not unusual to see students praying at shrines for academic success, or couples visiting deities of love in search of a lasting bond.
Though their forms may shift with time, these gods continue to live alongside people, close to their hearts.
The Spirit of Harmony in the “Eight Million Gods”
At its core, the idea of the “eight million gods” teaches us to honor the unseen and to accept the coexistence of diverse beings.
It encourages an attitude of inclusion—not rejecting nature, others, or differing values, but embracing them in harmony.
This may lie at the very heart of the Japanese spiritual mindset.
Japan’s frequent natural disasters have given rise to a culture of mutual aid and collective resilience. Perhaps the enduring belief in these many gods has helped nurture this spirit of communal support.
The gesture of placing one’s hands together before a household altar, the reverence for seasonal festivals—these are not just traditions.
They are expressions of a way of life that maintains balance with nature and society through connection with the divine.
Amanoiwato Shrine – Amanoyasugawara Hall Amanoyasugawara is said to be the sacred site where the eight million deities (Yaoyorozu no Kami) gathered to consult when the sun goddess Amaterasu hid herself in the Heavenly Rock Cave (Amanoiwato).
The eight million gods—
though boundless in scope, they are also intimately woven into the fabric of everyday life.
They are not merely a matter of faith.
They are a quiet, profound wisdom—helping people live in tune with nature, and in dialogue with the invisible forces that surround us.
In this way, the philosophy of the “eight million gods” may well be a way of life—and a way of thinking—that our modern world needs now more than ever.
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