Who is the Shinto god of wind?

Fūjin, commonly written Fujin in English, is the Shinto god of wind. He is usually depicted as a fearsome, vividly colored figure carrying a large wind bag over his shoulders, from which the winds are released.

Fūjin is frequently shown alongside Raijin, the god of thunder and lightning. The pair became a familiar combination in Japanese religious art, temple sculpture, painting, and popular culture. Their partnership explains why they are often mistaken for a single storm deity.

Mythological traditions connect Fūjin and Raijin with Izanami after her death and the underworld episode involving Izanagi. Fūjin also reflects broader cultural exchanges: imagery associated with wind deities traveled through Central Asia, China, and Buddhism before taking distinctive Japanese form.

Fūjin is not the same as Susanoo. Susanoo has strong storm and sea associations, while Fūjin’s specific domain is wind. Raijin, meanwhile, governs thunder and lightning, making the three figures related in weather imagery but distinct in role.