This list includes 12 Japanese gods that start with N, from “Naki-ikazuchi” to “Nukado no Kami”. Many are nature spirits, local guardians, or shrine kami, useful for study, writing, and shrine visits.
Japanese gods that start with N are Shinto kami and regional deities whose names begin with the letter N. Many represent weather, agriculture, or household protection, showing how everyday life shaped local beliefs.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Reading, Domain, Symbols, Notes.
Name: The deity’s commonly used name, so you can identify who appears in shrines, stories, and lists.
Reading: The Hepburn romanization or phonetic reading, helping you pronounce names accurately when researching or visiting shrines.
Domain: A concise phrase describing the deity’s area of influence, helping you match each kami to themes like storms or households.
Symbols: One to three common icons or objects linked to the deity, useful for recognition in art and shrine offerings.
Notes: Short contextual details, such as notable shrines, myths, or regional roles, to guide your further reading or travel plans.
Japanese gods that start with N
Name
Japanese name (kanji/kana)
Domain/Role
Symbols
Ninigi no Mikoto
瓊瓊杵尊 (ににぎのみこと)
Rice, agriculture, imperial ancestor
Ears of rice, Three Imperial Regalia, Mount Takachiho
Nigihayahi no Mikoto
饒速日命 (にぎはやひのみこと)
Sun god, flight, ancestor kami
Ten Sacred Treasures, sun, three-legged crow
Nakisawame no Kami
泣澤女神 (なきさわめのかみ)
Goddess of weeping, streams
Tears, water, Mount Kagu
Narukami
鳴神 (なるかみ)
Thunder god, storm deity
Lightning bolt, taiko drums, clouds
Namahage
生剥 (なまはげ)
Visiting folk deity, discipline
Ogre mask, straw cloak, large knife
Naoi no Kami
直毘神 (なおびのかみ)
Deities of purification, rectification
Haraegushi wand, clean water, mirror
Naki-ikazuchi
鳴雷 (なきいかづち)
God of crying thunder
Thunder, tears, decay
Naru-ikazuchi
成雷 (なるいかづち)
God of rumbling thunder
Thunder, sound, decay
Niwatsuhi no Kami
庭津火之神 (にわつひのかみ)
Guardian of the courtyard
Courtyard, sacred fire, garden
Nukado no Kami
戸之神 (ぬかどのかみ)
Guardian of the storeroom
Storeroom door, grain sacks
Natsunome no Kami
夏之売神 (なつのめのかみ)
Goddess of summer fields
Summer crops, sun, green fields
Natsutakatsuchi no Kami
夏高津日神 (なつたかつちのかみ)
God of summer mountain peaks
Mountain peak, summer sun, clouds
Descriptions
Ninigi no Mikoto
The grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu, sent to Earth to establish the Japanese imperial dynasty. He brought the first rice plants from heaven, making him a foundational kami of agriculture and the nation itself.
Nigihayahi no Mikoto
An ancient sun god who descended from heaven before Ninigi, bringing ten sacred treasures. He is a significant ancestral deity of powerful clans and symbolizes the peaceful submission of local gods to the heavenly kami.
Nakisawame no Kami
A goddess born from the tears shed by Izanagi while mourning the death of his wife, Izanami. She resides at the foot of Mount Kagu and embodies sorrow, with her tears forming streams and rivers.
Narukami
A name for the god of thunder, often synonymous with Raijin. Narukami embodies the terrifying and powerful sound of thunder, believed to be the rumbling of his drums. He is a fearsome but vital force of nature.
Namahage
A fearsome folk deity from the Oga Peninsula. On New Year’s Eve, men dressed as Namahage visit homes to scare lazy children, ward off evil, and bring blessings for the new year.
Naoi no Kami
A collective name for gods of rectification born from Izanagi’s purification ritual after he fled the underworld. They correct wrongdoing and purify sins, transforming misfortune and impurity back into a state of pristine order.
Naki-ikazuchi
One of the eight thunder deities born from the decaying body of the goddess Izanami in the underworld, Yomi. His name means “Crying Thunder,” representing the sorrowful and destructive aspect of storms.
Naru-ikazuchi
Another of the eight thunder gods born from Izanami’s corpse in the underworld. His name means “Rumbling Thunder,” embodying the deep, resounding sound that accompanies a storm and signals the power of the gods.
Niwatsuhi no Kami
A deity who protects the courtyard or garden of a home. Worshipped to ensure the purity and safety of the space immediately outside the dwelling, this kami is invoked in traditional Shinto purification prayers.
Nukado no Kami
The guardian deity of the storeroom door, especially where grain and treasures are kept. This kami ensures that the household’s provisions are protected from pests, theft, and decay, playing a vital role in domestic prosperity.
Natsunome no Kami
The deity who presides over the growth of crops during the summer months. This kami ensures that fields are fertile and productive through the hot season, safeguarding the summer harvest.
Natsutakatsuchi no Kami
A deity embodying the spirit of the high summer sun on mountain peaks. Born from the great mountain god Oyamatsumi, this kami represents the power and brilliance of summer in the high elevations of Japan.
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