Spiritual Forces of Sacred Naming in Japan

Divine Echoes in Naming Traditions

Today, while Japanese people may no longer fully appreciate the importance of names, this is a relatively recent phenomenon, occurring within just the past 30 years or so, and from the perspective of Japanese history, represents a very new attitude. Even today, customs such as “introducing oneself by name” upon first meeting, or addressing someone by their job title rather than their personal name, remain deeply rooted in society. Historically, names have been considered sacred throughout Japan’s long history, giving rise to a fascinating, almost fantasy-like world filled with political intrigue centered around names. The key to understanding this intriguing custom lies in the concepts of “avoidance of real names (実名忌避)” and the use of “dual names (二重の名).” From this perspective, let’s take our first step into this mysterious world.

As someone who explores ancient Japan by traveling throughout the country, I constantly feel that understanding names is crucial for creating deeper experiences during these journeys. These names are not limited to personal Japanese names, but extend to place names, shrines, and even the names of kami. The Japanese language might be challenging for readers, but through Shitsurae, I sincerely hope you can deepen your understanding even slightly, and thus spend days in Japan that profoundly impact your future life. Modern-day tourists hardly ever pay attention to Japanese names, but simply understanding this aspect opens up unlimited possibilities.

Going far back in history to unravel Japanese mythology, we find that the names of deities often had very long and unique sounds, believed to carry special powers in their meanings and phonetic qualities. This belief is deeply connected to Japan’s historical context, in which—unlike China—there was no original necessity for a written culture, resulting in a long-held faith that sounds themselves were divine entities. This belief evolved into what is known as “kotodama (言霊: literally, ‘word spirit’)” or “otodama (音霊: literally, ‘sound spirit’),” mystical concepts of Shinto that many readers find intriguing. Since my research primarily concerns eras lacking written records, I have frequently experienced deciphering hidden histories through the names of kami and places, which interestingly allow us glimpses into ancient realities. Although it may sound absurd, this is indeed true.

For example, the first deity appearing in the opening of the Kojiki, “Amenominakanushi-no-Kami (天之御中主神),” is commonly interpreted as “the deity who presides over the center of heaven,” and the name itself embodies divinity. Major contributions to interpreting this kami’s name were made by the Edo-period Kokugaku scholar Motoori Norinaga (1730–1801). However, although these divine names represent our ancestors, they are deeply intertwined with ancient Japanese beliefs from unimaginably distant times, and no interpretation can be considered definitive. In fact, although “Ama/ame” (天) in “Amenominakanushi” was imported from Chinese culture to mean a heavenly realm, within ancient Japanese texts alone, the sound “ama” appears in numerous forms, such as 天 (ama), 阿麻 (ama), 海部 (ama), 菴 (ama), and 甘 (ama).

This diversity arose because, after the introduction of Chinese characters, it became necessary to represent Japanese sounds through Chinese characters with approximate meanings. From a purely Japanese linguistic perspective, rather than being associated with the Chinese celestial concept, “ama” tends to be more closely connected with “the sea,” a concept very fitting for Japan, an island nation surrounded by oceans. Even today, those living by the sea and engaged in fishing are called “ama (海人),” with female divers specifically called “ama (海女).” Place names containing “ama” still exist throughout Japan, notably “Amami-Ōshima (奄美大島)” as the most prominent example. Additionally, ancient clans symbolized by “ama” once existed, such as the “Ama-be Clan (海部氏).” Descendants of the ancient Tango Ama-be clan still serve hereditarily as priests at Kono Shrine on the Tango Peninsula in northern Kyoto Prefecture. Before municipal mergers and reorganizations in the 20th and 21st centuries, place names clearly indicating their connection to the Ama-be clan also remained, such as the openly named Ama-be County (海部郡) in Ōita Prefecture.