Kusabira-gami (菌神)

About this Yokai

Kusabira-gami (菌神). Kusabira-gami means “Mushroom Deity.” During a 7th-century famine, starving villagers followed a mysterious creature into the forest. There, they discovered a vast, sudden bloom of unknown mushrooms within a shrine’s sacred grounds. Saved from death, the people renamed the site Kusabira (“mushroom”) Shrine in gratitude. Today, it remains Japan’s only shrine dedicated to fungi, frequented by brewers and fermentation enthusiasts. Though revered as a divine miracle, many believe the mysterious “holy mushrooms” were actually just oyster mushrooms.

Artist’s Note

A mushroom personified in Shinto priest attire. Ever since watching Louie Schwartzberg’s 2019 film Fantastic Fungi, I have held a profound respect for mushrooms.