This list includes 21 Japanese gods that start with K, from “Kagaseo” to “Kōshin”. You’ll find major Shinto kami alongside regional and folk deities commonly linked to shrines and local rites.
Japanese gods that start with K are a mix of major Shinto kami and locally revered folk deities with varied roles. Notably, Kōshin connects to folk-calendar practices while Kagaseo reflects protective and warrior associations.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Reading, Domain, Shrine, Symbols, and Notes.
Name: The common romanized name of each god, so you can quickly recognize and locate specific deities.
Reading: The standard Hepburn romanization or kana reading showing pronunciation so you can say names correctly.
Domain: A concise phrase describing each deity’s sphere of influence, helping you spot gods linked to particular themes.
Shrine: Primary shrine associations or major worship sites so you can connect the deity to places and rituals.
Symbols: One to three iconic items or animals associated with the deity, useful for identification and visual research.
Notes: Brief contextual details such as mythic roles, alternate names, or regional variations that clarify each entry’s background.
Japanese gods that start with K
| Name | Japanese (kanji/kana) | Domain | Symbols |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kagutsuchi | 火之迦具土神 (かぐつち) | God of fire and blacksmiths | Flames, pottery, swords |
| Konohanasakuya-hime | 木花之佐久夜毘売 (このはなさくやひめ) | Goddess of volcanoes and Mount Fuji | Cherry blossoms, volcanoes |
| Kuraokami | 闇龗 (くらおかみ) | Dragon god of rain and snow | Dragon, rain, snow |
| Kuebiko | 久延毘古 (くえびこ) | God of knowledge and agriculture | Scarecrow, scrolls |
| Kuni-no-tokotachi | 国之常立神 (くにのとこたちのかみ) | Primordial god of the land | Reed shoot, land |
| Kotoshironushi | 事代主神 (ことしろぬし) | God of fishing and commerce | Fishing rod, sea bream (tai) |
| Kushinadahime | 櫛名田比売 (くしなだひめ) | Goddess of rice paddies | Comb, rice fields |
| Kashima-no-kami | 鹿島神 (かしまのかみ) | God of thunder and martial arts | Sword, deer |
| Katori-no-kami | 香取神 (かとりのかみ) | God of swords and national defense | Sword (Futsunomitama) |
| Kōjin | 荒神 (こうじん) | Fierce god of the hearth | Hearth, cauldron, fire |
| Kukunochi-no-kami | 久久能智神 (くくのちのかみ) | God of trees and forests | Trees, wood |
| Kaya-no-hime | 鹿屋野比売神 (かやのひめのかみ) | Goddess of fields and plains | Grasses, plains |
| Kappa | 河童 (かっぱ) | Water spirits of rivers | Water, cucumber, lily pad |
| Kamimusubi | 神産巣日神 (かみむすびのかみ) | Primordial goddess of creation | Seeds, growth |
| Kukurihime | 菊理媛神 (くくりひめのかみ) | Goddess of mediation and matchmaking | Thread, mountains |
| Kagaseo | 香香背男 (かがせお) | Rebellious star god | Star, rebellion |
| Konjin | 金神 (こんじん) | God of direction and taboos | Metal, compass direction |
| Kōshin | 庚申 (こうしん) | God of roads and protection | Three wise monkeys |
| Kanayama-hiko | 金山彦神 (かなやまひこのかみ) | God of mines and metalwork | Metals, forge, pickaxe |
| Kanayama-hime | 金山媛神 (かなやまひめのかみ) | Goddess of mines and metalwork | Metals, ore |
| Kishimojin | 鬼子母神 (きしもじん) | Protector of children and mothers | Pomegranate, children |
Descriptions
Kagutsuchi
The last child of Izanagi and Izanami, whose fiery birth tragically killed his mother. He is venerated at fire-related shrines across Japan to ward off conflagrations.
Konohanasakuya-hime
The beautiful goddess of Mount Fuji and wife of Ninigi-no-Mikoto. She symbolizes the delicate, ephemeral nature of life, like a cherry blossom. Her main shrine is Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha.
Kuraokami
A dragon deity of water, particularly rain and snow in valleys. According to the Kojiki, he was born from the blood of the fire god Kagutsuchi after he was slain by Izanagi.
Kuebiko
A scarecrow deity who cannot walk but possesses all-encompassing knowledge of the world. Mentioned in the Kojiki, he represents wisdom gained through patient observation.
Kuni-no-tokotachi
One of the very first gods to emerge at the beginning of creation. As a primordial deity, he represents the eternal foundation and spirit of the land itself.
Kotoshironushi
A son of Ōkuninushi, known for providing wise counsel and good fortune. He is often identified with Ebisu, one of the Seven Lucky Gods, and is a patron of business and fishing.
Kushinadahime
A beautiful princess saved by the hero god Susanoo from the monstrous eight-headed serpent, Yamata no Orochi. She became Susanoo’s wife and is venerated as a deity of agriculture.
Kashima-no-kami
The powerful kami of Kashima Jingū, also known as Takemikazuchi. He is a god of thunder, swordsmanship, and military victory, famously depicted holding down a giant catfish that causes earthquakes.
Katori-no-kami
The principal deity of Katori Jingū, also known as Futsunushi. A god of swords and warfare, he worked alongside Kashima-no-kami to pacify the land for the heavenly kami.
Kōjin
A fierce and powerful deity of the hearth, kitchen, and fire, who punishes impurity. Kōjin is a syncretic figure, blending Shinto, Buddhist, and folk beliefs.
Kukunochi-no-kami
The kami of trees, born from Izanagi and Izanami. As the spirit of wood and forests, he is a patron of carpenters and lumberjacks and a guardian of woodland ecosystems.
Kaya-no-hime
The goddess of wild fields and plains, also known as Nozuchi. She is the wife of Kukunochi, the god of trees, and together they preside over all vegetation.
Kappa
Folkloric water spirits, often depicted as mischievous turtle-like humanoids. While sometimes seen as yōkai, they are also worshipped as water deities (suijin) at shrines to ensure safety near rivers.
Kamimusubi
One of the first three deities to exist, Kamimusubi is a fundamental creative force representing growth and generation. She played a key role in reviving Ōkuninushi in the Kojiki.
Kukurihime
A mysterious goddess who appeared at the border of the underworld to mediate a dispute between Izanagi and Izanami. She is enshrined at Shirayama Hime Shrine and worshipped for matchmaking.
Kagaseo
An unruly star deity, also called Amatsumikaboshi, who resisted the heavenly kami during their pacification of the land. He was eventually subdued by the warrior gods Takemikazuchi and Futsunushi.
Konjin
A fearsome god from Onmyōdō traditions who travels from one compass direction to another. Disturbing the ground in his current location was believed to bring severe misfortune.
Kōshin
A syncretic folk deity worshipped on the “kōshin” day of the calendar. He is often depicted with the three wise monkeys, who symbolize “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”
Kanayama-hiko
The male deity of metals and mining, born from the vomit of Izanami as she suffered from giving birth to the fire god. He is worshipped by blacksmiths and metalworkers.
Kanayama-hime
The female deity of metals and mining, and the sister/wife of Kanayama-hiko. Together, they preside over all aspects of metallurgy, from discovering ore to forging tools.
Kishimojin
Originally a Buddhist demoness who devoured children, she converted and became a powerful protector of children, mothers, and childbirth. She is worshipped at many Shinto shrines in a syncretic context.