Sutinkami

Sutinkami are a fictional class of spirits, or kami, that appear in some fantasy settings, notably in contemporary literature and tabletop role-playing games. They are depicted as guardians of memory and storytelling, dwelling in places where written words endure—libraries, archives, old notebooks, and the margins of manuscripts.

The term combines the Japanese word kami, meaning deity or spirit, with a speculative prefix intended to suggest subtle, ink-born beings. In many depictions, sutinkami arise when stories are written or read, formed from the residue of ink, graphite, and breath, and they carry impressions of the tales they accompany.

In appearance, sutinkami are usually described as small, shimmering figures or wisps that resemble flowing glyphs. They can interact with texts by nudging letters into place, revealing hidden annotations, or briefly animating passages. They are generally benevolent toward readers and writers, but some versions portray capricious sutinkami that test memory, erode unsaved drafts, or spread rumors through margins.

Cultural role and rituals vary by setting. Some communities offer ink, quills, or passages translated into sutinkami-friendly handwriting as a sign of respect. In others, sutinkami are objects of reverence in libraries or archives, symbolizing the value of recorded memory and authorship.

In fiction and games, sutinkami are used to explore themes of memory, authorship, censorship, and the relationship between reader and text.