In Shinto, mitama refers to the spirit or soul of a kami, often discussed as having different aspects.
The concept is commonly written with characters meaning honorable or sacred spirit. Shinto traditions sometimes distinguish aspects of a kami’s mitama, including the peaceful nigi-mitama and the rough or forceful ara-mitama. Some traditions also discuss saki-mitama, associated with blessing, and kushi-mitama, associated with mysterious or transformative power.
Mitama should not simply be translated as an individual human soul. In Shinto thought, it can describe the spiritual presence or power of a kami and can be ritually enshrined or transferred. The term also appears in expressions connected with ancestral spirits, such as the memorial observances of Mitama Matsuri in Japanese religious culture.