In Shinto, an ujigami is a kami connected to a particular clan, community, or locality.
The word combines uji, meaning clan or community, with kami, meaning a sacred or divine presence. Historically, an ujigami was often regarded as the ancestral or protective deity of an uji, a kinship group in ancient Japan. Over time, the term broadened and could refer to the guardian deity of a village or neighborhood, even when residents were not related by blood.
An ujiko is a worshipper or parishioner associated with a shrine, not the deity itself. A kannushi is a Shinto priest, while a miko is traditionally a shrine attendant. Ujigami worship remains especially important at local shrine festivals, where communities gather to honor their shared protector and reinforce local identity.