In Shinto thought, the term *kami* refers to sacred spirits or divine forces that suffuse and animate the world, rather than distant, omnipotent creator gods. These presences are understood as intrinsic to reality itself, the sacred dimension of what appears outwardly as “nature” or “ordinary” life. Mountains, rivers, trees, rocks, wind, rain, thunder, the sun, and the moon can all be experienced as manifestations of kami. In this sense, the natural landscape is not merely scenery but a living field of spiritual presence, in which particular places and phenomena are honored as bearers of holiness.

Kami also encompass the spirits of human beings, especially ancestors and notable figures whose lives have left a powerful imprint. Deified emperors, imperial ancestors, clan founders, family spirits, heroes, and other significant historical persons may be revered as kami after death. Their presence is not imagined as wholly removed from the human world, but as continuing to participate in the ongoing life of families, communities, and the land itself. Veneration of such ancestral kami expresses gratitude, continuity, and a sense of shared destiny across generations.

Alongside natural and ancestral spirits, Shinto recognizes mythological deities and more abstract forms of kami. Primordial gods such as Izanagi and Izanami, and major deities like Amaterasu and Susanoo, are understood as powerful kami associated with foundational myths and cosmic order. At the same time, qualities, virtues, and protective forces linked to particular places, professions, or activities can also be regarded as kami. In this way, both the visible and invisible dimensions of experience—tangible landscapes and intangible values—are gathered under a single sacred horizon.

Kami are not conceived as all-powerful or absolutely transcendent beings standing outside the world; rather, they are immanent presences with varying degrees of power and influence. They can be benevolent, life-giving, and protective, yet also potentially dangerous if neglected or treated without respect. Rituals, offerings, and festivals serve to honor these spirits, seek their blessings, and maintain a harmonious relationship between humans, nature, and the unseen realm. At its heart, the reverence for kami expresses a vision of reality in which the sacred is woven through every facet of existence, inviting a posture of humility, gratitude, and careful attention to the world as it is.