Kamiarizuki

The term "Kamiarizuki" refers to a specific month in the traditional Japanese lunisolar calendar, particularly in the Izumo region. This month, also known as "Kannazuki" (Month Without Gods) elsewhere in Japan, is believed to be when all the Shinto gods gather in Izumo.1

Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan, with kami as its objects of worship. Kami can be translated as "god," "lord," or "deity," but also encompasses natural forces, ancestors, and even inanimate objects like plants and rocks, all of which are revered due to their perceived superiority or divinity. These kami are often worshipped in Shinto shrines, sometimes represented by symbolic objects like mirrors called shintai. The concept of kami is vast, with myths speaking of "800 myriads of kami," suggesting an infinite number.2