Ask John: How Many Different Ways Does Kami-sama Appear in Anime?

Question:
Notwithstanding that the term “Kami-sama” means god or deity, as well as sometimes referring to one being called God, in how many different ways do you immediately recall “Kami-sama” being represented in anime?

Answer:
The Japanese idea of “kami” is a fluid one because of its flexibility to refer to a conceptual single god or a pantheon of spiritual beings. “Kami” typically refers to a divine spirit while “kami-sama” is a revered address for a singular divine being. Good examples of “kami” are provided by anime including Kamichu and Spirited Away. Both of these anime illustrate a multitudinous array of divine beings ranging from the gods of laserdiscs and ramune soda to nature spirits. The use of the concept “kami-sama” in anime, though, is a bit more varied.

In varying anime, the term “kami-sama” may be used to invoke a singular god, or may refer to a literal singular god, a divine being, or a character that acts like a god. Occasionally in anime – forgive me for being unable to recall a specific sequence of dialogue from any particular example – a frightened or desperate character may pray to “kamisama,” Buddha, God, or other divine beings. In this case, the character isn’t specifically addressing a plea to any single, specific god, but rather to the concept of a single divine ruler, whomever that benevolent deity may be. In the Hareluya II Boy anime, the kami-sama is literally the singular God of Christianity. The Kamisama Kazoku television series likewise poses its “kami-sama” as a singular, all powerful divine being, although Kamisama Kazoku doesn’t specifically distinguish its “kami-sama” as the Christian God. Similarly, Dragon Ball Z includes a character referred to as “Kami-sama.” But the Kami-sama of Dragon Ball Z isn’t a divine being. Rather, he’s an alien who has purified himself and taken on the god-like role of being the world’s benevolent observer and protector. Likewise, Kyouka the cat-eared psychic mother figure in Kyouran Kazoku Nikki refers to herself haughtily as “kami-sama,” although she’s not a divine being. In the recently broadcast eighth episode of Kannagi, Nagi uses the word “kami-sama” ambiguously in a way that could refer to an almighty being, or could refer to herself, since she is a kami. And Koge Donbo’s Kamichama Karin playfully uses the concept of “kami-sama” to refer to an angel rather than a formal god.