Toshigami (年神 or 歳神), also known as Ōtoshi-no-kami (大年神), is a Japanese kami and a part of the Shinto pantheon.

Etymology

The 年 (nen) kanji originally meant "harvest", which became "year" over time as harvest happened once each year. Toshigami was therefore the god of abundant harvests, and specifically of grain or rice. The character 神 (kami) literally means "god" or "deity".

Mythology

Parentage and siblings

According to the Kojiki, Toshigami was the son of Susanoo and Kamuo Ichihime and the older brother of Ukanomitama.

Family

Toshigami had offspring through three different wives: Ino-hime (伊怒比売), Kaguyo-hime (香用比売), and Amechikarumizu-hime (天知迦流美豆比売). Through Ino-hime, his children include Ohokuni-mitama (大国御魂神), Kara-kami (韓神), Sofuri-kami (曾富理神), Shirahi-no-kami (白日神), and Hijiri-no-kami (聖神). His children by Kaguyo-hime include Ōkaguyama-tomi (大香山戸臣神) and Mitoshi-no-kami (御年神). With Amechikarumizu-hime, he had Okitsu-hiko-no-kami (奥津日子神), Okitsu-hime-no-mikoto (奥津比売命), Oyamakui-no-kami (大山咋神), Niwa-tsuhi-no-kami (庭津日神), Ikasuri Shrine, Ikasuri Shrine, Kaguyama-tomi-no-kami (香山戸臣神), Hayamato-no-kami (羽山戸神), Niwataka-tsuhi-no-kami (庭高津日神), and Ōtsuchi-no-kami (大土神).

Family tree