In Japanese mythology, Raijin is the god of thunder and lightning, often shown beating drums.
Raijin’s name combines rai, meaning “thunder,” with shin or jin, meaning “god” or “deity.” Japanese art commonly depicts him as a muscular, fearsome figure surrounded by a ring of drums. Striking those drums is said to create thunder.
Raijin is frequently paired with Fūjin, the god of wind. Their images are especially famous from the monumental paintings and sculptures associated with Buddhist temples, although both figures also belong to Japan’s wider religious and folkloric world. Their pairing can lead to confusion, but Raijin governs thunder while Fūjin governs wind.
The figure reflects the importance and danger of storms in an agricultural society. Thunderstorms could bring life-giving rain, yet lightning and strong winds could also destroy crops and buildings. In modern Japanese, kaminari means “thunder” or “lightning,” while Raijin remains the mythological personification of that force.