Raijin

nihongo|Raijin|雷神|raijin is a god of thunder and lightning in Japanese mythology. His name is derived from the Japanese words "rai" (雷, meaning thunder) and "shin" (神, god). He is typically depicted as a demon beating drums to create thunder, usually with the symbol tomoe drawn in the drums.

Raijin is sometimes credited with eating the bellybuttons or abdomen of children, and in the event of thunder, parents traditionally tell their children to hide their navels so that they are not taken away. Raijin's companion is the demon Raiju.

Raijin is also known by the following names:
* Kaminari-sama: "kaminari" (雷, thunder) and "-sama" (様, a Japanese honorific)
* Raiden-sama: "rai" (雷, thunder), "den" (電, lightning), and "-sama"
* Narukami: "naru" (鳴, thundering/rolling) and "kami" (神, god)

In Japanese art, the deity is often depicted together with Fūjin, the wind god.

Raijin is a well-known deity and his fame has spawned characters in many forms of Japanese media. He is often made fun of, for example in an episode of Kyorochan. In the West, Raijin entered pop culture in the fighting game "Mortal Kombat", which contained a character called Raiden. He has also played a minor role in the Japanese role playing game "Final Fantasy VIII" as one of Seifer Almasy's henchmen. Raijin has been depicted as part of the pantheon of gods in other contexts, including an appearance with other Eastern elemental gods in the film "Big Trouble in Little China".

ee also

*Tenjin, almost same meaning with Raijin, but in many cases this word is used in the meaning of Sugawara Michizane.
* Lei Gong, a Chinese god of thunder with similar characteristics.

References