Yato-no-kami (夜刀神)

Name Meaning

Yato-no-kami (夜刀神) can be translated as "night-blade god" or "blade-snake deity," reflecting their deadly nature and form.

• Ya (夜) = night
• To (刀) = blade or sword
• Kami (神) = god or spirit

Origin

• Mentioned in the historical Hitachi no Kuni Fudoki (Chronicles of Hitachi Province).
• Associated with fields in Hitachi where they were believed to dwell and curse humans.
• Feared as vengeful deities bringing death to those who encountered them.

Appearance

• Snake-like deities with a divine yet terrifying aura.
• Sometimes visualized as large serpents with glowing eyes and divine markings.
• Considered both yokai and kami in context.

Behavior & Myths

• It was said that anyone who saw the Yato-no-kami would die or be cursed.
• A man named Yahazu no Uji no Matachi was credited with exterminating them to make the land inhabitable.
• They serve as an example of land-cleansing myths in early Japanese texts.

Symbolism

• Represents the untamed, deadly forces of nature.
• Symbolizes divine punishment and cursed lands.
• Often invoked in stories as an obstacle to settlement and agriculture.