Kami

Kami

Kami isn't quite a one to one to how we think of the word "God". Kami is almost better thought of as a divine or spiritual being. These divine beings could be the creators of the world, a spirit that protects the forest by your house, or a dog that is possessed. Even your ancestors are likely considered kami as they are now spirits. It really spans a lot of types and degrees of entities, and when you get down to the lower levels of kami, the line between Kami and Yokai can blur. Many yokai often have the "gami" suffix on their name which means the same thing as kami. Kami aren't neccessarily good either, as many kami are forces of chaos and destruction, or straight up troublemakers.
To add some clarity and classification, Amatsukami, which could be thought of as "greater Kami" are those that are more powerful and exist in the heavens. Kunitsukami conversely are lesser kami that exist on the earth.
The means by which kami origniate is a mystery, and a question that isn't asked by many. The kami simply are. Kami often have strong associations with certain places and things, and can be embodied in physcial objects. A kami may exist purely to protect one place. A kami may reside in an object, frequently the case with ancestor kami who are believed to have spirtual ties to things like heirloom swords they owned in life.
A Kami can be communicated with at a shrine often through a Shrine Maiden. Devotees of Shinto will pray to and give offerings to specific kami they wish to appeal to.

Kamuy

Like regular Kami, kamuy act as guardians and caretakers, but are sepcifically worshipped by the Ainu People of Hokkaido. Kamuy are nature spirits, typically taking the form of animals. The most notable one in Ainu culture being Kim-Un-Kamuy, the kamuy of bears.

Notable Kami

Here is a list of the most prolific or interesting kami. This is by no means an exhaustive list so if you don't see anything you like, check out this: List of notable kami

Amaterasu

The primary kami of the Shinto religion. Amaterasu is the sun goddess, and began the lineage the would lead to the first emperor of Japan: Emperor Jimmu. This bloodline would continue unbroken for 2,600 years exactly in 1940 with the current emperor being Hirohito, who is believed to be a divine descendent of Amaterasu, and thus a god. Amaterasu has such a critical role in the culture of the nation. The name "Nippon" the proper name of Japan, literally means land of the rising sun. The flag of Japan reflects the primacy of the sun as well.

Tsukuyomi

A mysterious and distant entity. She is the object of worship for the Moon Rabbits

Susanoo

The wild and impulsive warrior god of the seas and storms. Susanoo slayed the great monster Orochi.

Izanagi

The first man, husband of Izanami, and father of Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo. He is considered a kami of life.

Izanami

The wife of Izanagi. When she went to the land of darkness after dying in childbirth, Izanagi went and found her there, grieving and her body deteriorating. Because she had partaken of the food of the land of darkness she could not leave and became a kami of death. Izanagi escaped and cleansed himself of the experience.

Hachiman

The god of war. He was a common god worshipped by the samurai.

Inari

An androginous god of foxes and agriculture, as well as smiths and merchants. Due to his relation to many activities of ordinary people, he is an extremly common god to have shrines dedicated to him. Kitsune, which are fox spirits, are followers of Inari.

Ebisu

One of the seven lucky gods. Ebisu will grant fortune and wealth to those that follow him.

Raijin

The god of lighting, thunder, and storms, the beastly Raijin, born of Izanami, creates these weather phenomen by playing taiko drums.

Fujin

Similar to Raijin, Fujin is a beastly kami that controls powerful winds in a bag he carries.

Ryujin

A dragon kami that can transform into a human, and controls the oceans. He lives in an undersea coral palace called Ryugu-jo, where he controls the tides using tide jewels.

Kim un Kamuy

The Ainu god of bears. Bears in particular hold a special religious significance for the AInu.