Shinigami Yokai

**Shinigami Yokai** are a variation of the Grim Reaper Yokai, Undead Yokai and Spirit Yokai who are responsible for guiding souls to the afterlife.

## Physical Appearance

Some Shinigami Yokai has a goblin or skeletal appearance who usually wears all black and red. Some has a more humanoid appearance that makes them able to blend in with the other humans. They wear a hooded cloak and carries around a scythe like all Grim Reaper Yokai.

## Description

Shinigami Yokai are known as Death Gods. As death spirits of Japanese folklore, they're responsible for seeing that a person dies at their appointed time and then guiding their spirit to be judged in the afterlife. Humans simply describes Shinigami as the Japanese equivalent to the American's Grim Reaper or the Irish's Dullahan who are both guides to the afterlife.The main differences between a Grim Reaper and shinigami are firstly that Grim Reaper is either a single individual or at least one of small group, while shinigami are generally both numerous and form a highly stratified and bureaucratic society of psychopomps and divine judges. The second difference is that shinigami as a whole tend to be weaker than a Grim Reaper: while some may reach impressive levels of power, average individuals are far below them.

## Abilities

Here are the abilities that Shinigami Yokai can have in their arsenal:

* Afterlife Transport
* Death Inducement
* Death Sense
* Decelerated Aging or Semi-Immortality
* Enhanced Combat
* Enhanced Condition or Supernatural Condition
	+ Enhanced Speed
	+ Enhanced Strength
* Weapon Proficiency often either:
	+ Enhanced Swordsmanship
	+ Scythe Proficiency

### Variations

* Death-Force Manipulation
* Elemental Manipulation
* Life-Force Absorption
* Life Vision
* Ninjutsu
* Possession
* Soul Absorption
* Spirit Physiology

### Associations

* Afterlife Border
* Grim Reaper Physiology
* Necromancy
* Soul Manipulation

## Pop Culture

Bleach and Death Note are popular examples of where Shinigami are depicted. In Bleach, Shinigami (死神, death god(s); Viz "Soul Reaper(s)") are guardians of the souls who are going through the circle of transmigration. In ancient times, they were known as Balancers (調整者 (バランサー), Baransā; Japanese for "Regulators"). They purify Hollows who do evil in the World of the Living and ensure the safe crossing of souls - the Pluses who have lost their way after death - by giving them a soul burial. Shinigami are the opposite of the Quincy. In Death Note, they are a race of extra-dimensional beings who survive by killing humans to extend their own lives. Shinigami are not responsible for every death that occurs; people will eventually die regardless of whether or not the Shinigami pay attention to them, but a Shinigami can end their lives sooner than intended to extend their own lifespan.

## Variations

### Grim Reaper Yokai

Shinigami are the Japanese equivalent to the American's Grim Reaper. They are both responsible of guiding the souls to the afterlife where they are judged.

### Undead Yokai

Shinigami are immortal beings. As such, they're considered to be an undead due to their longevity.

### Spirit Yokai

Shinigami are death spirits in Japanese folklore. They handle with seeing that a person dies at their appointed time. If they see that someone didn't die at their appointed time, they're allow to bring their souls back to their living bodies for a second chance in life.

### Deity Yokai

Shinigami are also called Death Gods as they see over the death of humans. Making them one of the most powerful Yokai in the Hidden World.

## Life in the Hidden World

Shinigami Yokai prominently lives in the Japan Region of the Hidden City. As told in their folklore, these Yokai are responsible for making sure people and Yokai died in their appointed times and then bringing them to the afterlife where they would be judged. They're part of the Reaping Organization. An organization that hires a new reaper for every century. They're responsible for making sure there's balance between life and death. Hiring a new Yokai who can take on the role as the century's newest death spirits to guide new souls to the afterlife. As part of the Reaping Organization, there's always a new shinigami for every century.

## Symbolism

The Shinigami are some of the most unique and interesting characters in Japanese mythology. Latecomers into the mythos of Japanese Shintoism, Buddhism, and Taoism, the Shinigami were inspired by Western and mainly Christian stories of the Grim Reaper. As such, they act as both spirits and gods of death in Japanese culture.