usugami

Usugami is a term that may refer to several different uses in Japanese language and culture, rather than a single, well-defined entity. It is encountered as a proper noun in various contexts, including names and fictional or folkloric references, and its exact meaning can vary by source.

Etymology and usage: In Japanese, usugami can be interpreted as a compound built from elements relating to “thin,” “faint,” or “weak” and “kami” (god or spirit). The precise kanji, reading, and intended sense are not standardized, and writers may render the term differently depending on context. This variability means usugami often functions more as a stylistic or literary label than as a fixed concept.

As a surname: Usugami is attested as a Japanese surname. Like many family names, it can appear across regions and in different eras, carried by individuals in diverse professions. The surname does not correspond to a single historical figure or tradition.

In folklore and fiction: In some regional myths or modern works of fiction, usugami is used as a character name or as a fictional entity. In such uses, it may be depicted as a minor or ephemeral spirit or simply as a distinctive personal name. These portrayals are not part of a canonical or widely recognized pantheon in mainstream Shinto or Japanese folklore.

See also: Kami; Shinto; Japanese folklore; Japanese surnames.