Kami

Kami is a Japanese word that means “spirit,” “god,” or “divinity.” It refers to the sacred beings or spirits that are believed to inhabit natural objects, like rocks, trees, and rivers, as well as the ancestors and deities of the Shinto religion.

Imagine you have a favorite toy, like a teddy bear. You love your teddy bear so much that you feel like it has its own special magic. You might even talk to it or ask it for help when you're feeling scared or lonely. That's kind of what it's like with kami.

In Japan, people believe that everything in nature has a special power and spirit inside it. They might visit a certain tree or rock because they believe that it's home to a kami that can help them with something, like healing an illness or bringing good luck. They might also honor the ancestors and deities of the Shinto religion, like the sun goddess Amaterasu, by visiting their shrines, making offerings of food or flowers, and saying prayers.

Kami are seen as powerful but also very close and connected to people's everyday lives. They can be happy, sad, angry, or generous, just like humans. By respecting and caring for the kami, people hope to strengthen their own relationships with nature and the divine.