Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Of the many psychopomps, messengers of death and Grim Reaper-like figures, one of the more recent and most mysterious are the shinigami. Appearing in folklore from the Edo period of Japan, Shinigami appear to people when it is their time to die, in a form that is different to everyone. But whereas many death spirits are depicted as collectors of human souls who take their prize like a farmer cutting crops or a hunter catching game, the shinigami simply invite the person to other side, acting more as a caretaker than a predatory figure!
Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/mythologyunleashed
MYTHOLOGY HAS BEEN TOLD AND RETOLD IN MANY FORMS ACROSS TIME, STORIES AND ACCOUNTS MAY VARY.
MUSIC:
"Eerie Japanese Music" by Lantern
CLIPS:
Stock footage of mist
OPENING:
fiverr.com/saif_edits
ARTISTS FEATURED:
Liger Inuzuka
Tithi Luadthong
Ehsan Kafi
Tarek Mahdie
Ned Kelly Gaol
Amaury2502 art
Dean Brorson
Emi Sczublewski
Natasha Smith
Nanfe art
Callum Woodley
Maria Toutountzidou
Alicexz art
REFERENCES:
yokai.com/shinigami
ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/shinigami-grim-reaper-japanese-folklore-006072
historycooperative.org/japanese-god-of-death-shinigami
If we used your artwork please let us know so we can give proper credit!
Of the many psychopomps, messengers of death and Grim Reaper-like figures, one of the more recent and most mysterious are the shinigami. Appearing in folklore from the Edo period of Japan, Shinigami appear to people when it is their time to die, in a form that is different to everyone. But whereas many death spirits are depicted as collectors of human souls who take their prize like a farmer cutting crops or a hunter catching game, the shinigami simply invite the person to other side, acting more as a caretaker than a predatory figure!
Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/mythologyunleashed
MYTHOLOGY HAS BEEN TOLD AND RETOLD IN MANY FORMS ACROSS TIME, STORIES AND ACCOUNTS MAY VARY.
MUSIC:
"Eerie Japanese Music" by Lantern
CLIPS:
Stock footage of mist
OPENING:
fiverr.com/saif_edits
ARTISTS FEATURED:
Liger Inuzuka
Tithi Luadthong
Ehsan Kafi
Tarek Mahdie
Ned Kelly Gaol
Amaury2502 art
Dean Brorson
Emi Sczublewski
Natasha Smith
Nanfe art
Callum Woodley
Maria Toutountzidou
Alicexz art
REFERENCES:
yokai.com/shinigami
ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/shinigami-grim-reaper-japanese-folklore-006072
historycooperative.org/japanese-god-of-death-shinigami
If we used your artwork please let us know so we can give proper credit!
