"**Mimi**" and "**Mi**" are Japanese words that can be found in many names related to ancient Japan. They are very common in names of royal family members. They're also found in names of leaders, people, and objects. "Mi" can mean "divine spirit" and can be a part of names for deities. For example, the terms "Watatsumi" and "Ōyamatsumi" mean "sea spirit" and "mountain spirit" respectively and both use the version 霊.

Spellings include Mimi (ミミ、耳、彌彌、美美) and Mi (彌、見、美、海、看).

In ancient Japanese historical texts like "Kojiki" and "Nihonshoki", people with "Mi" or "Mimi" in their names were often leaders in their regions. For instance, "Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto [en]" ruled in the Izumi and Settsu regions, "Kugamimi" ruled in the Tamba region, and "Masakitsumimi" ruled in the Tajima region. and minor chiefs named Hatatsumi and Kijimatsumi are mentioned.

More people with it in their names are, Suga no Yatsumimi, Futimi no Kami [ja], Torimimi [ja], Tahiriki Shimarumi no Kami [ja], who appear in the Izumo myth of the Kojiki. Amenohibara Oshinomi no Kami [ja] is also considered a regional chief.

Some people have names historians think came from the place they ruled, plus Mi or Mimi. People like this include Ikatomi of Ika District [en], Omi Province (Ikatomi, perhaps Igatsuomi no Mikoto [ja] ). Emperor Suizei 's Japanese-style name, Kaunumakawamimi, and his older brother, Kamuyaimimi may come from places called Kaunumakawa and Kamuyai.

The leader of Toumakoku [en] was called Mimi.

Mimi and Mi at shrines
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"Mimi" and "Mi" are also present in the names of several shrines across Japan such as the Mimi Shrine [ja] in Wakasa Province and Minakatatomi Shrine in Shinano Province.

* Mimi Shrine [ja] in Wakasa Province,

* Minakatatomi Shrine in Shinano Province

* Ashizumi Shrine [ja] in Omi Province
* Kayanarumi Shrine [ja] in Takaichi County, Yamato Province
* Haniyamahimi Shrine [ja] in Mima District [en] Awa Province

Mimi and Mi in clans
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Furthermore, these words appear in the names of ancient Japanese clans, these are some of those clans. 

* Azumi clan whose Oyagami was Watatsumi
* Hozumi clan [ja] whose Oyagami was Nigihayahi [en].
* Wanizumi clan [ja], which is considered to be of the same family as the Wani clan
* Izumozumi clan, which is considered to be of the same family as the Izumo no Kuni no Miyatsuko [ja]
* Tsuzumi clan (津積氏).

Here are some clans without the sound in their names, but their ancestors have it in their names

* Kamo clan [en] - Okamotsumi [ja]
* Achi clan [ja] and Chichibu no Kuni no Miyatsuko [ja] - Uma-shimi -no-mikoto,
* Kibi clan [ja] - Misuki-tomo-mimi,
* Ki no Kuni no Miyatsuko [ja] - Toyomimi-no-mikoto.
* Hiokibe clan [ja] - Ame no Kushimi,
* Nukatabe clan [ja] - Ame no Yukutomi.
* Kume clan [ja] - Umashimimi

Mimi and Mi of Imperial Family Lineage
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Mimi and Mi's lineage can be seen in the names of people in the Japanese royal family. Here are some of these people. 

* Ame-no-oshihomimi [en] the grandfather of Emperor Jimmu.

* Tagishimimi [en]
* Kamuyaimimi
* Kamununakawamimi no Mikoto the Japanese name of Emperor Suizei
* Hikohachi Hikoyaimimi no Mikoto (does not appear in "Nihonshoki"),
* Kisumimi no Mikoto (does not appear in "Nihonshoki").

### Genealogy

Note that Emperor Suizei went by the original name of *Kamununakawamimi no Mikoto*


|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  | Himetataraisuzu-hime |  |  |  | Emperor Jimmu |  |  |  |  |  | Ahiratsu-hime |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| **Kamuyaimimi** |  | Hikoyai |  | Emperor Suizei |  |  | Tagishimimi |  | Kisumimi |
|

‡ not in the Nihon Shoki