Shinigami 1315949 225381812 2008-07-13T11:25:59Z 121.55.228.51 {{Unreferenced|date=May 2008}} {{nihongo|'''Shinigami'''|死神||literally "death god" or "God of Death"}} is the [[Death (personification)|personification of death]] that evolved in [[Japan]], having been imported to Japan from Europe during the [[Meiji period]]. This image of death was quickly adopted and featured in such works as the ''[[rakugo]]'' play ''Shinigami'' and in [[Shunsen Takehara]]'s ''[[Ehon Hyaku Monogatari]]'' (One-hundred Story Picture-Book).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.manganews.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-1328.html | title=From Japan: "Grim Reaper" Boom in Novels & Manga | accessdate=2007-10-02}}</ref> The term ''shinigami'' may also be used more loosely to refer to any [[death deity]]. It seems to be a recent term, however, as it belongs to no specific [[Shinto]] deity and is rarely used in folklore. Today ''shinigami'' frequently appear in original Japanese works of fiction (anime and manga most often). == In popular culture == <!-- Note to editors: Please keep this list short and concise. Please avoid adding trivial references (e.g. the article subject is mentioned briefly in an episode of an anime, or is a minor boss in a game) and please refrain from OR (e.g. references using the following form: "X is probably based on article subject" or "X bears a striking resemblance to article subject" etc. are strongly discouraged). Thank you. --> Perhaps the first appearance of ''shinigami'' in Japan was in a ''[[rakugo]]'' play titled ''[[Shinigami (rakugo)|Shinigami]]''. It is thought that this play was based on the [[Italy|Italian]] [[opera]] ''Crispino e la Comare'', which was in turn based on ''Der Gevatter Tod'', a [[Germany|German]] [[fairy tale]] recorded by the [[Brothers Grimm]]. ''Shinigami'' characters often appear in modern Japanese popular culture. These characters are typically employed as [[psychopomp]]s, bringing deceased souls to the world of the dead. ''Shinigami'' appear in the following fictional works: * In ''[[Bleach (manga)|Bleach]]'', shinigami, or [[Soul Reaper (Bleach)|Soul Reapers]], are souls that protect the human world from [[Hollow (Bleach)|Hollows]] and that lead to people to [[Soul Society]], a place reigned by souls in another dimension. * In ''[[Boogiepop|Boogiepop phantom]]'', Boogiepop is said to be a shinigami, appearing to protect human kind. * In ''[[Death Note]]'', there is also another dimension where [[Shinigami (Death Note)|shinigami]] live, however those instead of protecting humans, they kill them in order to extend their own life. To murder someone, they (the shinigami) have to write the name of the human in a notebook (know as ''Death Note'') and they ''must'' have the face of that person clearly in their mind. * In the anime and manga ''[[Ginga Densetsu Weed]]'', one of the three chosen elites of ''[[Hougen]]'' and ''[[Genba]]'', ''[[Buruge]]'', proclaims during his fight with ''[[Kyoushiro]]'' that he's a Shinigami. * In ''[[Soul Eater (manga)|Soul Eater]]'', shinigami is the head of the Shibusen technical school for weapon meisters. Whilst he has a son, the shinigami no longer seems to hunt for souls, after rooting himself to Death City. He is the head of Shibusen, who posts those who need their souls harvested on his list. This shinigami is more like the Grim Reaper than a normal deity, since he used to actively devour the souls of wicked people. * In ''[[Descendants of Darkness]]'', the main characters are ''shinigami'' who work in a place called Meifu; their job is to make sure that everything goes well when human souls die and are reborn. * In ''[[Nephilim (manga)]]'', one of the main characters, Abel, is a shinigami. She is part of the race of people called Nephilim. They are rumored to possess unimaginable beauty at night, and are said to be shape-shifters/gender-benders. * In ''[[Full Moon o Sagashite]]'', ''shinigami'' ensure that a person dies at the moment they are fated to die by interfering with circumstances and events that would cause a death earlier or later than fate deems; they then act as a [[psychopomp]]. These ''shinigami'' were once people who committed suicide and now must collect souls as punishment. * In ''[[The World Ends With You]]'', Neku Sakuraba and his friends must win a week-long "Shinigami Game" administrated by a group calling themselves Shinigami under the threat of being removed from existence. The Shinigami use a stylized [[skull and crossbones]] as their insignia. The english version of the game refers to them as "Reapers". * A ''shinigami'' character appears in [[Shigeru Mizuki]]'s comic series ''[[Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro]]'' and ''[[Kappa no Sanpei]]''. He has a skull-like head and likes watermelon. * In the ''[[Murder Princess]]'' manga, the character Dominikov is a shinigami. * In ''[[Naruto]]'', the ''shinigami'' is a monster-like deity clad in a flowing white robe which can be invoked using a technique known as the [[Sealing jutsu#Dead Demon Consuming Seal|Dead Demon Consuming Seal]]. * In ''[[Omishi Magical Theater: Risky Safety]]'', ''shinigami'' resemble small, cute versions of [[Death (personification)|Death]], and try to convince their victims to commit suicide. The title character, Risky, is a ''shinigami'' who attempts to use a miniature scythe to send the female protagonist to the land of the dead. * In ''[[Ballad of a Shinigami]]'', the main character is a ''shinigami'' whose job is to collect the souls of people at the moment of their death. However, she attempts to make a positive impact on the lives of the people who encounter death. * The ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' games and their ''[[Persona (video game)|Persona]]'' spinoffs, a ''shinigami'' class of demons includes many death-related gods borrowed from mythology, such as [[Chernobog]], [[Persephone]], [[Ankou]], [[Hades]], [[Mot]], and [[Thanatos]]. * In ''[[YuYu Hakusho]]'', the character [[Botan (YuYu Hakusho)|Botan]] and other ''shinigami'' are represented as kimono-wearing girls that ride on oars. These girls guide departed souls to the Spirit World ([[Reikai]]), where they are judged by the deity [[Koenma]]. * In ''[[Zombie-Loan]]'' the main character, Michiru Kita, has what is called "Shinigami Eyes". These allow her to see a faint ring around a person's neck, when this ring becomes completely black that person's death is near or that person is a zombie. * In ''[[Princess Mononoke]]'' the Shishigami (The Forest Spirit which resembles a great stag during day) turned into a Shinigami when his head was cut off. It resembled a humanoid made of tar-like liquid that towered over the forest and trees, killing anything that touched it. * In ''[[The Dark One Saga]]'', a horror tetralogy. Shinigami watch over a person their entire life, serving the dual purpose of guiding them to limbo once deceased, as well as being a [[guardian angel]]. * In ''[[Dragon Warrior II]]'' and a clear data file of ''[[Dragon Warrior Monsters (video game)|Dragon Warrior Monsters]]'', the evil priest Hargon wishes to summon a shinigami named Sidoh (called Malroth in the original [[NES]] version of ''Dragon Warrior II''). It is unknown whether or not Hargon wants Sidoh to help him rule the world, or destroy it. Characters associated with death are also commonly named or nicknamed "Shinigami": * In ''[[Rozen Maiden]]'', [[Suigintou]]'s medium([[Megu Kakizaki]]) calls Suigintou Angel-san in the episode where they first meet. She also tells Suigintou to quickly take her away from the world * In the ''Akumajō Dracula/[[Castlevania]] series'' (video games), a character named "[[Death (Castlevania)|Shinigami]]" (Death in the US games) is a loyal servant to [[Dracula]], working to hasten his master's revival and assisting him in creating a world of darkness. * At least three characters from the multiple ''[[Gundam]]'' universes are called "Shinigami" as a nickname. These include, [[Kyral Mekirel]] from [[G Gundam]], [[Duo Maxwell]] from [[Gundam Wing]], and [[Terry Sanders Jr.]] from [[Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team]]. * In the manga ''[[Hellsing]]'', character [[Walter C. Dornez|Walter Dornez]], has the nickname "Shinigami". * The protagonist of the anime ''[[Darker Than Black]]'', codename Hei, is known by the nickname "Black Shinigami" for his skills at killing opponents during a war in South America ten years prior. * In the manga ''[[Zombie Powder]]'', the main character, Gamma Akutabi, is nicknamed the "black-armed shinigami", referring to the black armor he has grafted to one of his arms. <!-- *''Gyaatoruzu'' (manga) *''[[Shinigami-kun]]'' (manga) *''[[Shinigami-kun no Oshigoto]]'' (manga) *''[[Soul Eater]]'' (ソウルイーター) (manga) removed above from visible until somebody wants to add some information. --> * A character in the Klonoa games goes by "Shinigami Guntz" from his job as a mercenary. Most of his moves has 'Shinigami' in front of them. * In the Japanese manga "[[Shinigami Lovers]]" the character Sei is a shinigami who is chained to Mika's soul by the Thantos Lovers chains. * In the manga "[[As the Death God Dictates]]" by Mimori Ao the main character Ayumi is told she had one month left to live by the shinigami Shiro. == Related deities == The following are Japanese death deities but are usually not referred to as shinigami: * '''[[Enma]]''' ( ''-ō'', ''-daiō'') :: Enma, also known as [[Yama (Buddhism and Chinese mythology)|Yama]], is a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] deity who judges the dead with either reward or punishment in [[Di Yu|Jigoku]] (the afterlife). * '''[[Izanami]]''' :: A goddess in [[Shintoism]], wife of [[Izanagi]]. Izanami is a goddess of creation who later became a goddess of death. == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == * [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/book/news/20051207bk07.htm Article on the Grim Reaper] {{ja icon}} [[Category:Shinigami| ]] [[Category:Japanese legendary creatures]] [[Category:Shinto kami]] [[ar:شينيغامي]] [[ca:Shinigami]] [[cs:Šinigami]] [[de:Shinigami]] [[el:Σινιγκάμι]] [[es:Shinigami]] [[eo:Ŝinigamio]] [[fr:Shinigami]] [[it:Shinigami]] [[ms:Shinigami]] [[no:Shinigami]] [[pl:Shinigami]] [[pt:Shinigami]] [[ro:Shinigami]] [[ru:Синигами]] [[sk:Šinigami]] [[sv:Shinigami]] [[tr:Şinigami]]