Hi, I’m Puchiko! 😊⛩️
Hey you, curious about Japan!
Have you ever heard the phrase “Japan has eight million gods” (yaoyorozu no kami)?
It doesn’t literally mean 8,000,000 gods—instead, it’s an old way of saying “countless gods”.
Why? Because in Japan, people have long believed that gods exist everywhere: in mountains and rivers, in the kitchen, even in the bathroom.
Today, I’ll guide you through this unique world of everyday gods in Japan.♬
1. Gods Are Everywhere
Traditional belief
- Mountains, rivers, giant trees, and rocks → nature itself is divine
- Kitchen gods, toilet gods, rice gods → deities are also found in everyday life
Modern perspective
- Many Japanese still bow to nature or visit shrines on New Year’s, but it’s more about gratitude and mindfulness than strict faith
- Gods are seen less as “distant beings” and more as part of daily life
👉 You don’t need a special pilgrimage—Shinto gods can be felt in everyday moments.
2. Itadakimasu and the Gods
Before every meal, Japanese people say itadakimasu.
Traditional meaning
- It means “I humbly receive this life”, expressing gratitude not only to the food but also to nature and the gods that provided it.
Modern perspective
- Foreign friends sometimes ask, “Is itadakimasu like Bon appétit?”
- Not quite—it’s more about thanking nature, life, and people before eating.
3. The Spirit of Mottainai
Another unique Japanese word is mottainai, meaning “what a waste.”
Traditional belief
- Objects were thought to have spirits or divine essence. Throwing them away carelessly was disrespectful to the gods.
Modern perspective
- Today, mottainai means not wasting resources.
- It even gained international attention as an eco-friendly Japanese philosophy.
👉 Respect for gods naturally grew into respect for objects and nature.
4. What the Eight Million Gods Teach Us
- Shinto is polytheistic, not about one almighty god, but countless gods in all things.
- This belief nurtured a culture of respect for nature, people, and even objects.
- Instead of being distant, gods are seen as close companions in daily life.
5. Conclusion
The idea of the Eight Million Gods shaped Japan’s culture of gratitude:
- Saying itadakimasu before meals
- Using mottainai to value things
- Respecting nature and ancestors in everyday life
💡 Puchiko’s tip:
“When foreign friends ask me, ‘Where are the gods in Japan?’ I say, ‘Everywhere.’ In the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the rice we eat. For Japanese people, living together with the gods is just part of daily life.”
Step deeper into Japan’s sacred mysteries. ⛩️🌿