Fūjin and Raijin: From Ancient Myth to Japan’s Storm Gods
Imagine a storm approaching in the distance.
The wind grows stronger, and thunder begins to roll across the sky.
For people in Japan long ago, this was not merely a change in the weather.
It was believed to be the work of powerful deities — Fūjin, the God of Wind, and Raijin, the God of Thunder.
Yet these two gods were not always imagined as a pair.
Why did Fūjin and Raijin come to be seen together as the storm gods of Japan?
And how did they become such iconic figures in Japanese culture?
Let us explore the story of Fūjin and Raijin — and the long journey that brought wind and thunder together.
The Storm Gods Japan Knows Today
Before tracing the long journey of Fūjin and Raijin, let us first take a brief look at how they are seen in Japan today.
For many people in Japan, the two deities are almost never imagined separately.
Instead, they are almost always pictured together — standing as an inseparable pair, representing the wind and thunder that arrive with a storm.
Two familiar images have played a particularly strong role in shaping this modern perception.
One is the famous Fūjin Raijin-zu Byōbu (Wind and Thunder Gods Folding Screens) painted by the early Edo-period artist Tawaraya Sōtatsu.
In this masterpiece, the two gods appear across a shimmering gold background.
Fūjin carries his great wind bag, while Raijin stands surrounded by a ring of thunder drums.
The other well-known example can be found at the Kaminarimon Gate of Sensō-ji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo.
At this iconic gate, statues of Fūjin and Raijin stand on either side, welcoming the millions of visitors who pass through each year.
Through images like these — in paintings, temples, and everyday culture — people have come to see the two deities as an inseparable pair.
A small break — a little side note
Visiting Fūjin and Raijin at Kaminarimon Gate
Have you ever wondered what the famous statues of Fūjin and Raijin at Tokyo’s Kaminarimon Gate actually look like?
This short video takes you to the entrance of Sensō-ji Temple in Asakusa, where the two storm gods stand as guardians of the gate. Fūjin stands on the right side carrying his great wind bag, while Raijin stands on the left surrounded by his ring of thunder drums.
Interestingly, another pair of deities can also be found on the reverse side of the gate — the Dragon Gods, one male and one female, representing the power of water.
Together, these guardians create a symbolic balance of wind, thunder, and water, protecting the temple grounds.
Take a moment to see these famous figures that welcome millions of visitors to Asakusa each year.
How Wind and Thunder Became a Pair
Today, Fūjin and Raijin are strongly associated as a pair.
However, their inseparable relationship did not emerge overnight.
So how did these two storm gods come to be seen together?
To understand this, let us take a closer look at the long process through which wind and thunder came to be imagined as one.
Nature, Agriculture, and Early Myth
In ancient Japan’s agricultural society, the growth of crops was of great importance.
Wind, rain, and thunder — the forces that brought life to the fields — were deeply connected to everyday life.
These natural phenomena were understood as part of the cycle of nature and the changing seasons. As a result, people came to feel both awe and gratitude toward them.
Over time, these forces of nature were believed to be inhabited by divine spirits and were remembered as deities in Japanese mythology.
For example, the wind god Shinatsuhiko appears in the Kojiki.
Thunder, on the other hand, is associated with several powerful deities, including Takemikazuchi.
At this stage, however, the gods of wind and thunder were not yet presented as a fixed pair.
Although both were connected with storms and rain, they were remembered as separate deities, each representing different aspects of nature.
Cultural Influences from East Asia
At the same time, ideas from outside Japan also played an important role.
For example, in Chinese mythology, wind and thunder deities such as Feng Bo (the Earl of Wind) and Lei Gong (the Duke of Thunder) were often depicted as complementary forces.
Similar imagery can also be found in Buddhist art across Central Asia.
In the murals of the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, for instance, wind and thunder guardians appear protecting sacred spaces.
As religious ideas and artistic traditions from other regions gradually reached Japan, the concept of wind and thunder as a paired force slowly became more familiar.
Buddhist Iconography in Japan
When Buddhism was introduced to Japan, Buddhist art also began to spread throughout the country.
In artworks known as the Twenty-Eight Guardian Deities of the Thousand-Armed Kannon (Senju Kannon Nijūhachi Bushū), wind and thunder deities sometimes appear as attendants of Senju Kannon, depicted as a pair of guardian figures protecting the sacred realm.
One of the most famous examples of wind and thunder gods portrayed together can be found at Sanjūsangendō in Kyoto.
There stand dynamic wooden statues of Fūjin and Raijin, dating from the Kamakura period (c.1185–1333).
In these sculptures, Fūjin carries a large wind bag over his shoulders, while Raijin is surrounded by a ring of drums and holds drumsticks used to create thunder.
Their energetic poses vividly express the powerful forces of wind and lightning.
These works played an important role in establishing the visual image of Fūjin and Raijin that is widely recognized today, later inspiring generations of Japanese artists.
In this way, the image of Fūjin and Raijin as a paired set of deities did not arise from ancient belief alone.
Rather, it gradually took shape through the blending of Japan’s traditional beliefs with influences from foreign cultures, religious ideas, and Buddhist art.
Fūjin: God of the Wind
We have seen how Fūjin and Raijin came to be imagined as a pair of storm gods.
But before they were linked together, how was the wind deity understood?
Let us begin by exploring Fūjin, the god of the wind.
The Wind God in Ancient Mythology
The earliest records of the wind deity appear in two of Japan’s oldest historical texts.
- Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters, 712 CE):
The wind god appears under the name Shinatsuhiko, described as a child born to the divine couple Izanagi and Izanami. - Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan, 720 CE):
The wind god appears as Shinatobe-no-Mikoto, said to have been created from Izanami’s breath as she blew away the morning mist.
Today, Shinatobe is generally understood to refer to the same deity as Shinatsuhiko.
People of that time believed that wind was born from the breath of the gods.
For them, this was a way to understand the invisible yet powerful forces of nature that could be felt but not seen.
A Spirit Both Feared and Revered
As Japanese society developed, strong seasonal winds and sudden storms inspired both fear and reverence.
Violent winds could flatten crops, damage fishing grounds, and were sometimes believed to carry disease.
Because of this, people occasionally regarded the wind deity as a yakubyōgami, a god associated with epidemics and misfortune.
At the same time, fierce winds were often interpreted as a sign of the wind god’s anger.
To calm this divine fury, communities held festivals and rituals, praying that destructive gales would turn into gentle, life-giving breezes.
Wind Spirits in Folk Belief
In the early modern period, beliefs surrounding the wind deity became closely connected with disease and misfortune.
In Japan, the common cold is written with the characters 風邪 (kaze), literally meaning “wind illness.”
In folk belief, harmful winds were sometimes associated with evil or impure energies carried through the air.
Some traditions imagined the wind deity as a wandering spirit who traveled on the wind and spread sickness wherever he passed.
During outbreaks of illness, communities in certain regions created straw effigies of the wind god.
These figures were paraded through the village and then cast into a river.
The ritual symbolically carried disease and misfortune away with the flowing water, purifying the community.
In this way, Fūjin was both essential and troublesome for the people who lived with the forces of nature.
The wind he represented was vital for agriculture and daily life, yet violent gales could also destroy crops and were sometimes believed to carry illness.
For this reason, people lived with the wind in a delicate balance — fearing its power while also showing reverence for the deity who controlled it.
Raijin – God of Thunder
Now let us turn to Raijin, the god of thunder.
Origins in Myth and the Underworld
Like the wind god Fūjin, the earliest references to thunder deities appear in Japan’s ancient chronicles, the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki.
According to these myths, after the goddess Izanami died and descended to the underworld of Yomi, eight thunder deities emerged from different parts of her body.
These gods are known collectively as the Eight Thunder Gods (Hachirai-shin).
Each deity was associated with a different aspect of thunder and lightning:
| Thunder Deity | Meaning / Symbolism |
|---|---|
| Ōikazuchi-no-Kami | The overwhelming power of lightning |
| Honoikazuchi-no-Kami | Flames caused by lightning |
| Kuroikazuchi-no-Kami | The darkness that fills the sky during storms |
| Sakuikazuchi-no-Kami | Lightning tearing through the sky |
| Wakaikazuchi-no-Kami | The renewed world after a storm |
| Tsuchiikazuchi-no-Kami | Lightning striking the earth |
| Naruikazuchi-no-Kami | The rumbling sound of thunder |
| Fusuikazuchi-no-Kami | Lightning hidden within the clouds |
These myths suggest that ancient people carefully observed the many forms of thunder and lightning, while also associating these terrifying forces with the mysterious world of the dead.
The Legacy of Sugawara no Michizane
During the Heian period (794–1185), beliefs surrounding thunder took an important turn.
Sugawara no Michizane (845–903), a powerful court scholar and statesman, was exiled from the capital due to political conflict.
After his death, a series of disasters struck the capital, including lightning strikes, storms, and epidemics.
The most dramatic event occurred in 930, when lightning struck the Seiryō-den, a building within the imperial palace.
Several high-ranking officials who had gathered there were killed or injured.
Many people came to believe that these disasters were the work of Michizane’s angry spirit.
To calm his wrath, the imperial court restored his titles and began worshiping him as Tenjin, a deity associated with scholarship and thunder.
From this time onward, lightning was often understood as a manifestation of Tenjin’s power.
This belief strengthened the cultural association between thunder and divine punishment in Japanese thought.
For centuries, lightning inspired fear as one of nature’s most destructive forces.
Yet through the rise of Tenjin worship and the legacy of Sugawara no Michizane, the thunder god also came to be linked with wisdom and learning.
Thus, Raijin’s image evolved beyond a symbol of fear, becoming a deity who reflects both the power of nature and the hopes of human society.
Why Do Fūjin and Raijin Look Like That?
When we picture the familiar figures of Fūjin and Raijin, certain objects quickly catch our attention.
Fūjin carries a large wind bag, while Raijin stands surrounded by a ring of thunder drums.
Why do these gods appear with such distinctive items?
Let us explore the symbols that represent the invisible powers of wind and thunder.
Why Raijin Carries Drums
The ring of drums behind Raijin is often called thunder drums.
When thunder rolls across the sky, its booming sound can resemble the rhythm of several drums being struck one after another.
By surrounding the thunder god with multiple drums, artists expressed the powerful sound of thunder and its echo as it spreads across the heavens.
Raijin is also often depicted holding drumsticks in his hands.
By placing drumsticks in the thunder god’s hands, artists emphasize both the action of striking the drums and his role as the one who creates thunder.
Why Fūjin Carries a Wind Bag
Fūjin carries a large sack known as a wind bag, said to be filled with powerful winds.
Because wind itself cannot be seen, artists expressed its movement by imagining it as air contained within a great bag.
In this way, the invisible force of the wind could be understood in visual form.
The wind bag thus became a symbol of the god’s power to gather, store, and release the winds of the world.
When Fūjin opens the bag, powerful gusts are released across the world, allowing people to imagine the sudden storms and rushing winds that sweep through the sky.
Making the Invisible Visible
The distinctive items carried by Fūjin and Raijin can be seen as reflections of how artists understood the forces of nature.
Both wind and thunder possess tremendous power, yet neither can be seen directly.
People experience them instead through sound, movement, and sudden changes in the weather.
By transforming these sensations into concrete forms — drums for thunder and a wind-filled bag for the wind — artists created images that people could more easily recognize and imagine.
In this way, such imagery may have helped people understand these overwhelming forces of nature, and perhaps even soften the fear they inspired.
Fūjin and Raijin in Japanese Art
The form of Fūjin and Raijin, as we have seen, was shaped in part by Buddhist iconography and later influenced generations of artists.
But in what kinds of artistic fields did this influence appear, and in what works can it be seen today?
Here, we will look at several notable examples that show how the storm gods have inspired Japanese art.
Painting Traditions
The most famous depiction of Fūjin and Raijin in Japanese painting is the Wind and Thunder Gods Screen created by the early Edo-period artist Tawaraya Sōtatsu, introduced at the beginning of this article.
In this celebrated work, Fūjin appears on the right and Raijin on the left, set against a brilliant golden background.
Fūjin carries his familiar wind bag, while Raijin is surrounded by thunder drums and holds drumsticks in his hands.
Although they are divine beings associated with violent storms, their expressions contain a playful and slightly humorous charm.
This gives the two gods a strong sense of character that goes beyond their fearsome natural power.
Sōtatsu’s screen later became one of the defining works of his artistic tradition, and during the Edo period (1603–1868) many painters reinterpreted the storm gods in their own styles.
- Kanō Tan’yū (1602–1674) created his own version of the Wind and Thunder Gods Screen, reflecting the bold elegance of the Kanō school.
- Ogata Kōrin (1658–1716) reimagined the gods with softer forms and more vivid colors, producing one of the most famous later interpretations. Today, this work is preserved in the Tokyo National Museum.
- Sakai Hōitsu (1761–1828) later painted a related image on the reverse side of Kōrin’s screen, creating a rare artistic dialogue across generations.
- Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) also depicted the storm gods in his well-known work Hokusai Manga, bringing their lively forms into the world of illustrated books.
Through the works of these many artists, Fūjin and Raijin gradually came to be understood as a paired set of gods.
Their image became one of the most iconic and enduring motifs in Japanese painting.
A small break — a little side note
Fūjin and Raijin in Art: How Artists Reimagined the Storm Gods
Have you ever wondered how artists influenced by Tawaraya Sōtatsu portrayed Fūjin and Raijin?
This video introduces Sōtatsu’s masterpiece Wind and Thunder Gods Screen and several later paintings inspired by this iconic work.
By viewing the artworks themselves, you can see how different artists reinterpreted the storm gods in their own styles across generations.
It is a fascinating glimpse into the artistic appeal of Fūjin and Raijin and how their imagery continued to evolve in Japanese art.
Take a moment to watch and enjoy these remarkable interpretations.
Sculptural Traditions
Paired representations of Fūjin and Raijin appear not only in painting but also in sculpture.
One of the most famous examples can be found at Sanjūsangendō in Kyoto.
These statues are sometimes said to have inspired the famous screen painting by Tawaraya Sōtatsu introduced earlier in this article.
Within the hall, the statues of Fūjin and Raijin stand among more than one thousand Buddhist images.
- Fūjin carries a large wind bag over his shoulder and twists his body as he stands. His fierce expression conveys the powerful force of rushing winds.
- Raijin is surrounded by a ring of thunder drums and holds drumsticks as if about to strike them. His sharp expression reflects the explosive energy of thunder.
These statues were carved using a traditional technique known as yosegi-zukuri, in which multiple pieces of wood are joined together to form a sculpture.
They were then carefully painted with color.
The figures are often considered to be among the oldest known surviving statues of Fūjin and Raijin in Japan.
Another example, also carved using the yosegi-zukuri technique, can be found at Terayama Kannonji Temple in Tochigi Prefecture.
This wooden pair of Fūjin and Raijin statues is believed to date from the Muromachi period (1336–1573).
Compared with the sculptures at Sanjūsangendō, these statues are smaller in height and have a simpler surface finish, showing how the style of these deities changed over time.
From Sacred Guardians to Modern Symbols
The pairing of Fūjin and Raijin also appears as guardian figures in architecture.
A well-known example can be seen at Kaminarimon, the famous gate of Sensō-ji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo, introduced at the beginning of this article.
On either side of the gate stand statues of the wind and thunder gods, revered as protectors who guard the temple from disasters such as storms, fires, and floods.
In Japanese temples, guardian figures are often placed within sacred spaces.
This reflects the belief that beings who embody the immense forces of nature also possess the power to protect people from calamities.
In fact, this gate was originally known as Fūrai-jinmon, meaning the Gate of the Wind and Thunder Gods.
The gate itself takes its name from these two gods.
Although the gate has been destroyed and rebuilt many times throughout history, the present structure was reconstructed in 1960 with support from Kōnosuke Matsushita, the founder of Panasonic.
Through paintings, sculptures, and architectural symbols, Fūjin and Raijin gradually came to be recognized as a pair within Japanese art and culture.
Across these different artistic fields, both artists and ordinary people came to see the two gods not only as individual deities with their own traditions, but also as complementary figures who together represent the powerful forces of wind and thunder.
Cultural Significance Today
The figures of Fūjin and Raijin remain familiar symbols in Japan even today.
Their images can be found in many places — from festivals and popular culture to contemporary art.
Here are a few examples that show how the storm gods continue to appear in modern Japanese culture.
Festivals and Folk Traditions
Fūjin and Raijin still appear today in festivals across Japan, where their powerful forms continue to captivate audiences.
One well-known example can be seen at the Aomori Nebuta Festival, where the storm gods have repeatedly been chosen as themes for the festival’s illuminated floats.
These massive glowing festival floats known as nebuta combine traditional craftsmanship with the vibrant energy of summer celebrations.
For example, a float depicting Fūjin and Raijin was created in 2022.
The storm gods have also appeared in the Shinjō Festival in Yamagata Prefecture, which is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Festival floats inspired by Fūjin and Raijin have been presented many times.
In 2022, one such float depicted the two gods alongside stories connected to the legend of Sugawara no Michizane, creating a dramatic narrative scene.
Motifs of the storm gods can also be found in festival clothing and decorations, including happi coats, tenugui towels, fans, and bags.
By wearing these designs, participants symbolically carry the power of wind and thunder as part of the celebration.
Modern Popular Culture
The pairing of Fūjin and Raijin can also be found in modern entertainment.
Characters and imagery inspired by the storm gods frequently appear in anime, manga, and video games.
In these works, the two deities are often portrayed as guardians, rivals, or symbolic figures representing the forces of wind and lightning.
One example can be seen in commemorative figures from the anime Naruto Shippuden, where the characters Naruto and Sasuke were released wearing costumes inspired by Fūjin and Raijin.
Designs based on the storm gods are often appreciated for their dynamic and powerful imagery, which many people associate with strength, speed, and dramatic energy.
Contemporary Art
In the field of art, modern artists continue to reinterpret Fūjin and Raijin through new artistic styles.
One notable example is Takashi Murakami’s “Fūjin Raijin” (2024), exhibited at the Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art.
In this work, Murakami presents the traditional storm gods using silver leaf and the bright aesthetics of contemporary pop art.
While earlier depictions often emphasized the fierce power of the storm gods, Murakami portrays them with playful, almost mascot-like expressions.
Their charming and approachable appearance gives the ancient deities a new sense of familiarity.
Through reinterpretations like this, the images of Fūjin and Raijin continue to evolve, showing how traditional motifs can find new life in modern artistic expression.
Through festivals, popular media, and contemporary art, Fūjin and Raijin continue to inspire new interpretations even today.
Originating from ancient beliefs, the two gods have gradually become enduring cultural symbols.
Their images remain timeless motifs in Japanese culture, and their stories continue to be reimagined and passed down across generations.
Conclusion – The Enduring Storm
From ancient beliefs in the forces of wind and thunder, Fūjin and Raijin have traveled through many layers of Japanese culture.
Influenced by Buddhist iconography introduced from abroad, their images gradually evolved as they appeared in mythology, religion, and artistic expression.
Through paintings, sculptures, and architectural guardians, the storm gods slowly took on the familiar forms we recognize today.
Even now, the figures of Fūjin and Raijin appear in festivals, works of art, and everyday designs.
People continue to be fascinated by the power of wind and thunder — and by the striking imagery these gods represent.
In this way, Fūjin and Raijin have become enduring symbols of how Japan weaves together ancient belief and centuries of cultural history.
The invisible forces of nature are given vivid form through these gods, and their images will continue to appear across Japan for generations to come.