In Shinto, the term “kami” designates the sacred spirits, powers, or divine essences that permeate and animate the world. Rather than corresponding neatly to the notion of a single, omnipotent deity, kami are understood as spiritual presences that evoke reverence and awe. They are associated with the sacred dimension of existence itself, expressing a power that is at once immanent and mysterious. This understanding allows for a vision of reality in which the divine is not distant or abstract, but intimately woven into the fabric of everyday life.

Kami can manifest in natural phenomena such as mountains, rivers, trees, rocks, and the wind, so that the landscape itself becomes a field of spiritual presence. They are also found in ancestral spirits and in notable humans who have come to be revered, as well as in deities linked to particular locations, clans, or social functions. In this way, the human community and the natural world are both seen as potential bearers of sacred power, and the boundary between them is softened rather than sharply drawn.

These spirits are not limited to concrete forms alone; they may also embody powerful forces or qualities such as fertility, growth, or protection, and can even be associated with abstract concepts. Their character ranges from benevolent to potentially harmful, reflecting the full spectrum of forces encountered in life. This ambivalence does not diminish their sacredness; instead, it underscores the need for respectful relationship, ritual attention, and ethical conduct in dealing with the unseen dimensions of reality.

Because kami are understood to be present everywhere in nature and within living beings and objects, the physical world is regarded as inherently sacred. Major deities such as the sun goddess Amaterasu are counted among the kami, yet so too are the spirits of particular places, animals, or objects that have acquired special significance. The concept of kami thus points toward a vision of profound interconnectedness, in which the divine is not set apart from the material world, but disclosed through it, inviting a posture of humility, gratitude, and careful attunement to the life that surrounds and sustains all beings.