Do you know what Shinigami really means? Who are they? Why are they gods of death? In this article, we will discuss everything about the Shinigami and their involvement in Japanese culture.
I believe that some of the people who searched for this word know very well that shinigami [死神] means "God of Death" or "Death Spirit." They probably saw it in some anime like Death Note or Bleach. But what does it mean to have a God of Death?
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Shinigami culture in Japan
In the West, shinigamis are vaguely confused with “Death”. The one who takes human life, sweeping the person from existence here on Earth and leading them to the other world. But is there anything related?
Shinigami It is a term used in Japan to describe supernatural entities present in the japanese mythology, which invite humans to death or lead them to commit suicide.
In ancient scriptures, the shinigami was also the demon that characterized the time each person had to live. Throughout different legends and beliefs, shinigami do not have a main representation.
THE ORIGIN OF THE GOD OF DEATH - SHINIGAMI
In Buddhism, the shinigami has another name, Mrtyu-mara (Death), he presents himself as the personification of temptation and according to belief, those who are possessed by this demon and are in despair would be incited to suicide. He is often confused with an explanation of the intentional act of dying.
They are mentioned in the classic literature of the Edo Period, in the book "Ehon Hyaku Monogatari" from 1841, there emerged a story titled "Shinigami," different from the God of Death who induced people to suicide, this story presented the God of Death as the reincarnation of the malevolent spirit of a Dead person, he took advantage of the bad intentions of his victims and they were led down dark paths, resulting in incidents and cases of murder, and thus, they were placed in a role of subjugating people, taking control of the person and leading them to suicide.
After the war, the Western notion of the god of death became established in Japan and the Shinigami began to be seen as an existence in human nature.
The term Shinigami became something popular in Japan, no longer a feared and tormenting being, having several works in book, manga and anime formats, making the myth of the God of Death popular, also in the West.
Myths and Legends about Shinigami
Shinigami are also mentioned in post-war popular culture. According to the habits and customs of Miyajima, in Kumamoto Prefecture, those who went out at night to meet someone should drink tea or eat a bowl of rice before sleeping, as it is said that if such a recipe is ignored, a shinigami would come to visit you.
In the area of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, there is a myth that a shinigami possess people, taking them to the mountains, seas and railways, where others had died. In these places, the dead "return from the dead" (shiniban) and if there were no one to die, they would never ascend even if they did a service; thus, it is said that people who were alive would be invited by death to return in the next one.
In another context, it is common to visit the graves for Higan, during the noon or when the sun sets, however, in the province of Okayama, visiting a grave at sunrise, could result in the possession of the person, victim of a shinigami.
Once you have visited the tomb at sunset, it would be necessary to return to the site also at dawn, because by ignoring this, a shinigami could come back and possess the individual. With this theory of popular belief, it is also thought that sometimes people consider that the bourei (亡霊, lit. ghost) of the deceased, who has no one to deify him, seeks someone to invite him to them in the afterlife.
Anime about Shinigami
Below we will see some of the best anime that focus on shinigami or gods of death, followed by a complete list of anime that have shinigami in their history. Hope you enjoyed the article! What is your opinion about the shinigami?
Death Note
Light Yagami is the best student in Japan. One day, his life undergoes a radical change when he finds a supernatural notebook called "Death Note", lying on the floor. Behind the notebook were instructions on its use, where it said that if you wrote a person's name and mentally visualized their face, (if you didn't specify their death) they would die of a heart attack in 40 seconds. Light was suspicious of the notebook's authenticity, but after testing it on two occasions, he realizes that its power was true.
After five days, he is visited by the Death Note's true owner, a shinigami named Ryuk. He says that he had dropped the notebook on Earth because he was bored. Light's goal is to kill all criminals, purify the world of evil, and become "god of the new world".
Soul Eater
Soul Eater tells the story of craftsmen students of a Shinigami Technical School. Each one has a different weapon that is also their partner. All students and guns go to class and have homework to do. Homework usually consists of capturing a certain soul or keeping the peace in the world.
So That's Why I Can't Get H.
A young man was walking in the rain when he sees a beautiful girl, red-eyed and wet from the rain. Everyone was avoiding her, but Ryousuke was taught to value women, so he offered to help. Ryousuke couldn't have imagined that this mysterious girl would stab him in the chest and drop him...
Bleach
tell the story of Kurosaki Ichigo, a young teenager who accidentally gains powers from another shinigami, Kuchiki Rukia.
Shinigami no Ballad
A shinigami dressed in white, with a scythe in her hand and accompanied by a talking cat with wings. This is a basic description of the two main characters in the series: Momo, the Shinigami and Daniel, the flying cat.
There are 6 independent stories. In each story, Momo will relate to different characters who, in some way, have connected with death with the loss of friends, relatives or himself. She will work with everyone's emotional and memory, trying to reverse or fix the hatred, regret, nostalgia or sadness of characters who lost a loved one.
Kyoukai no Rinne
As a child Mamiya Sakura mysteriously disappeared into the woods behind her grandmother's house. She returned safe and sound, but has since gained the power to see ghosts. Now she's a teenager who just wants to be left alone by the ghosts. At school, the table next to Sakura has been empty since the beginning of the school year, so one day, her always absent classmate shows up, but he's much more than he appears to be.
List of anime with Shinigami
Responsive Table: Scroll the table to the side with your finger >>
| Shinigami Anime Name | What | Type |
| Death Note | 2006 | TV |
| Soul Eater | 2008 | TV |
| Bleach | 2004 | TV |
| Searching for the Full Moon | 2002 | TV |
| RIN-NE 2 | 2016 | TV |
| RIN-NE 3 | 2017 | TV |
| Descendents of Darkness | 2000 | TV |
| So, I Can't Play H! | 2012 | TV |
| Momo: A Menina Deus da Morte | 2006 | TV |
| RIN-NE | 2015 | TV |
| Omishi Magical Theater: Risky Safety | 1999 | TV |
| Soul Eater Not! | 2014 | TV |
| Bleach Filme 4: Hell Verse | 2010 | Movie |
| Bleach Movie 3: Fade to Black | 2008 | Movie |
| Bleach Movie 2: The DiamondDust Rebellion | 2007 | Movie |
| Bleach Movie 1: Memories of Nobody | 2006 | Movie |
| Kuro no Sumika: Chronus | 2014 | Movie |
| Bleach: Memories in the Rain | 2004 | OVA |
| Bleach: A Frenesia da Espada Selada | 2005 | OVA |
| Elephant's Back: Departure Day | 2007 | OVA |
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