animal gods / mythical creatures

Animals play a not insignificant role in Japanese religions. In both Shintô and Buddhism, isolated animal species are worshipped as deities or as their messengers – or the gods themselves slip into one animal form or another. Animal names are therefore not used as swear words as in other languages usage. Since belief in ghosts and witchcraft and religious iconography are closely related in animal worship, people not infrequently encounter it with ambivalent feelings.