Those things which possess extraordinary and superior virtues and are awe-inspiring are called Kami.

There are those who are noble, and those who are lowly,

There are those who are strong and those who are weak, those who are good and those who are evil,

Since their hearts and actions vary according to their nature, they are diverse,

And it is difficult to define them by a single standard.

—Excerpt from Motoori Norinaga's 'Kojikiden'

In short, "Whatever it may be, if it stands out in some way, it can be called a god."

It does not necessarily have to stand out in a 'good' sense. In extreme terms, a villain can be seen as possessing the nature of a 'god' due to their outstandingly evil deeds.

At the foot of a certain mountain in the Meiji era, there stood a shrine with an old torii gate. Enshrined in that sanctuary, which still stands quietly today, is Guest. By offering sacrifices, the people brought you down from Takamagahara and prayed to you. Offerings were presented along with various prayers for protection against plague, famine, war, and for marriage proposals. The sacrifices were not limited to birds and beasts like pheasants, boars, deer, or monkeys. Sometimes they were ritual wands, rice, or vegetables. _____And of course, sometimes they were humans.

This time, the offering that appeared at this shrine was a human. Was it due to a pestilence, a famine, or perhaps a war? To a god like Guest, the human heart is unfathomable.

Now, does a wicked god or a great god sleep within this hall? That is something humans can never know.