This list includes 18 Japanese gods that start with M, from “Marishiten” to “Myōken Bosatsu”. It highlights major kami, Buddhist-linked figures, and notable regional gods for students, writers, and travelers.
Japanese gods that start with M are Shinto kami, Buddhist deities, and regional folk figures whose names begin with the letter M. For example, Myōken Bosatsu illustrates how star worship blended with Buddhist and local practices.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Reading, Domain, Symbols, Shrine/Region, and Notes.
Name: The deity’s standard English name and romanized Japanese form so you can identify each figure quickly.
Reading: Provides Hepburn romanization and pronunciation hints so you can pronounce names accurately and sort alphabetically.
Domain: Concise description of each deity’s role—protection, sea, harvest—so you can understand their main influence quickly.
Symbols: Lists one to three common iconographic items, which helps you recognize depictions and shrine offerings.
Shrine/Region: Primary shrine or region associated with the deity, so you can plan visits or contextualize local traditions.
Notes: Short historical or syncretic notes that mention variant names, key myths, or important cult practices you may want to explore.
Japanese gods that start with M
| Name | Japanese (kanji/kana) | Domain | Major shrine(s)/region(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marishiten | 摩利支天 | War, victory, protection | Tokudaiji Temple, Hōzenji Temple |
| Masakado no Mikoto | 将門命 | Vengeful spirits (goryō), protection | Kanda Myōjin, Tsukudo Jinja, Masakado Kubizuka |
| Matara-jin | 摩多羅神 | Performing arts, fate, obstacles | Mōtsū-ji, Kōryū-ji |
| Matsuo Daimyōjin | 松尾大明神 | Sake brewing, water, protection | Matsuo Taisha |
| Michizane Sugawara | 菅原道真 | Scholarship, learning, calligraphy | Dazaifu Tenmangū, Kitano Tenmangū |
| Mihotsuhime | ミホツヒメ / 三穂津姫 | Agriculture, fertility, seafaring | Miho Jinja |
| Mikage-no-kami | 御蔭神 | Mountains, divine origins | Shimogamo Jinja (Mikage Jinja) |
| Mike-tsu-kami | 御食津神 | Food, sustenance | Ise Grand Shrine (Gekū), Inari shrines |
| Minakatatomi-no-kami | 南方刀美神 | Lineage of Izumo | Izumo region |
| Mishaguji | ミシャグジ / 御射宮司 | Fertility, boundaries, curses, stones | Suwa region |
| Mishima Daimyōjin | 三嶋大明神 | Mountains, sea, volcanoes | Mishima Taisha |
| Mitoshi-no-kami | 御年神 | Grains, harvest, new year | Ōtoshimioya Jinja, various agricultural shrines |
| Miwa Myōjin | 三輪明神 | Sake, medicine, nation-building | Ōmiwa Jinja |
| Mizuhanome-no-kami | 罔象女神 | Water, wells, irrigation | Niukawakami Jinja, various water-related shrines |
| Moreya-no-kami | 洩矢神 | Local protection, ironworking | Suwa region (Moriya Jinja) |
| Munakata Sanjojin | 宗像三女神 | Sea, navigation, trade | Munakata Taisha, Itsukushima Jinja |
| Musubi-no-kami | 結びの神 | Matchmaking, relationships, destiny | Izumo Taisha, Hikawa Jinja |
| Myōken Bosatsu | 妙見菩薩 | North Star, fate, protection | Chiba Jinja, Yatsushiro-gū |
Descriptions
Marishiten
Originally a Buddhist deity of dawn, Marishiten was adopted by samurai as a powerful protector. Invoked for invisibility and victory in battle, she rides a divine boar and represents the warrior’s ideal of serene focus amidst chaos.
Masakado no Mikoto
The deified spirit of Taira no Masakado, a 10th-century samurai who led a rebellion. After his death, disasters were attributed to his vengeful spirit (*goryō*). He is now worshipped as a powerful protector of Tokyo.
Matara-jin
A mysterious and esoteric folk deity with ties to the Tendai sect of Buddhism. Often depicted as a masked figure, he is a god of the unseen, governing fate, protecting performers, and sometimes seen as a disruptive, ambivalent force.
Matsuo Daimyōjin
The main deity of Matsuo Taisha in Kyoto, one of Japan’s oldest shrines. While often identified with Ōyamagui-no-kami, he is worshipped as the divine protector of sake brewers, who revere the pure spring water flowing from his mountain.
Michizane Sugawara
The deified spirit of a brilliant 9th-century scholar and courtier who was exiled due to political intrigue. After his death, disasters struck the capital, and he was appeased by being deified as Tenjin, the god of learning.
Mihotsuhime
A goddess from the Izumo myths, mentioned in the *Kojiki*. She is the daughter of Takamimusubi and the wife of Kotoshironushi, the god of commerce. Together, they are enshrined at Miho Jinja, protecting sailors and granting bountiful harvests.
Mikage-no-kami
A deity of Mount Mikage in Kyoto, closely associated with the Kamo shrines. According to legend, this is where the mother of the thunder god Kamo Wake-ikazuchi found the sacred arrow that made her pregnant, linking this kami to divine ancestry.
Mike-tsu-kami
Not a single deity but a title for gods of food, meaning “August Food God.” It is most famously used for Toyouke-ōmikami at Ise’s Outer Shrine and is also a name sometimes given to Inari, the popular god of rice and business.
Minakatatomi-no-kami
A minor deity mentioned in the Kojiki as a child of Ōkuninushi, the Great Land-Master of Izumo. His specific domain isn’t detailed, but his inclusion in the genealogy highlights the vast pantheon associated with the Izumo cycle of myths.
Mishaguji
An ancient, indigenous spirit of central Japan, possibly of Jōmon origin. Worshipped through stone pillars or trees, Mishaguji represents the raw, untamed power of the land. He was later incorporated into the worship of Takeminakata at Suwa.
Mishima Daimyōjin
The powerful main deity of Mishima Taisha on the Izu Peninsula. Commonly identified with Ōyamatsumi (god of mountains), he was revered by samurai as a god of war and protector of the Tōkai region.
Mitoshi-no-kami
A son of Susanoo, Mitoshi-no-kami is an important agricultural deity who ensures a bountiful harvest for the year. He is part of a large family of harvest gods and is celebrated to secure prosperity and good fortune in farming.
Miwa Myōjin
The deity of Mount Miwa, one of Japan’s most sacred sites. This kami is Ōmononushi, whose spirit is said to inhabit the mountain itself. He appears in myths as a snake god who assists in building the nation and is a patron of sake brewing.
Mizuhanome-no-kami
A primordial goddess of water, born from the urine of Izanagi as he purified himself after escaping the underworld. Her name is associated with springs and irrigation, and she is worshipped across Japan to ensure a steady supply of life-giving water.
Moreya-no-kami
A native god of the Suwa region who was defeated by the invading god Takeminakata. Despite his defeat, he was not destroyed but became a key figure in the Suwa Shrine’s rituals, representing the indigenous spirit of the land.
Munakata Sanjojin
Three powerful sea goddesses born from a ritual between Amaterasu and Susanoo. They are worshipped as protectors of sailors, trade routes to Korea, and the imperial family. Their main shrine, Munakata Taisha, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Musubi-no-kami
A title for deities who govern *musubi*—the mysterious power of connection and creation. Often identified with Ōkuninushi or primordial gods, this power is invoked for success in love, marriage, and all forms of meaningful relationships.
Myōken Bosatsu
A bodhisattva who is the deification of the North Star and the Big Dipper. Syncretized into Shinto as Myōken-sama, this deity was worshipped by samurai and Onmyōji practitioners as a controller of destiny and a powerful guardian.