About Kamisama

Kami (神), or Kamisama (神様), to put it bluntly, are the objects of worship to those who practice Shinto. They're most accurately translated as "divine spirits".

Kami exist everywhere. In mountains, rivers, the wind, the sand, in every grain of rice, in every song, and even in kitchen utensils, computers and people. Their spirits, mitama (御霊) are not bound to anything, but some Kami might choose some vessels more than others. These vessels are called Yorishiro (依り代).

They are usually separated into the categories of Amatsukami (天津神) and Kunitsukami (国津神), which mean heavenly kami and earthly kami respectively. The former were born and/or reside in the Heavens, known as Takamahagara (高天原), and the latter were born and/or reside on Earth. Sometimes they're all collectively referred to as Yaoyorozu no Kami (八百万の神).

Some other categories include:

꩜ Dousojin (道祖神), also known as Sai no Kami (塞の神) usually govern boundaries, travel and often childbirth. They're usually depicted as a married couple carved into stone; they can be seen in the roadside or at village borders.

꩜ Kishin(鬼神) are often referred to as "wrathful deities" in English though they're less wrathful and more wild and untamed/untameable. They're usually depicted looking monstrous like oni and they're described as dangerous.

꩜ Koujin (荒神) are Kami of fire and the hearth.