There are many kami or “gods” that exist in the most relevant religion in Japan known as Shinto. These gods can be found and represented in everything, including nature, emotions or concepts. The Shinigami, or the God of Death, can be likened to the Grim Reaper who is attributed to be the inspiration of the Shinigami as it was not incredibly relevant in the Shinto religion before Japan was westernized. The Shinigami reap the souls of those who pass on but are not looked on in a negative light. Shinto followers believe that death is merely a part of the cycle of life and as such is unavoidable and as natural as birth and, therefore, it is not feared. The Shinigami are not depicted in ancient texts and does not have a consistent form, this may be why in anime that it varies so largely.

As time has progressed, the Shinigami has become accepted as one of the Shinto kami. Since Japanese people are very focused on tradition, the existence of the Shinigami is still revered and has been popularized by anime such as Death Note. This has allowed the Shinigami to become one of the most popular kami, not only in Japan but also around the world. With the names of other kami still largely unknown to the western world, the existence of the Shinigami is kept alive and well because of its portrayal in television and modern media.