Kukunochi

{{Short description|Japanese deity}}

Kukunochi (久久能智神 – Tree Trunk Elder){{cite web|title=Kukunochi • A History of Japan - 日本歴史|url=https://historyofjapan.co.uk/wiki/kukunochi/|website=historyofjapan.co.uk|accessdate=2020-10-14}} is the kami of trees,{{Cite book|last=Ashkenazi|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gqs-y9R2AekC&dq=Kukunochi&pg=PA352|title=Handbook of Japanese Mythology|date=2003|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-57607-467-1|pages=298|language=en}} the kami is also called Ki-no-kami,{{Cite web|title=Encyclopedia of Shinto詳細|url=https://d-museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp/eos/detail/?id=9371|access-date=2021-09-01|website=國學院大學デジタルミュージアム|language=ja}} or Kuku-no-shi. He is the brother of Ōyamatsumi, Shimatsuhiko, and Watatsumi.{{Cite book|last1=Coulter|first1=Charles Russell|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sEIngqiKOugC&q=Kukunochi|title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities|last2=Turner|first2=Patricia|date=2013-07-04|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-96390-3|pages=278|language=en}}

It is possible Kukunochi was originally a tama that dwelled in trees.{{Cite web|title=Evolution of the Concept of Kami|url=https://www2.kokugakuin.ac.jp/ijcc/wp/cpjr/kami/ito.html|access-date=2021-09-05|website=www2.kokugakuin.ac.jp}}{{Clarification needed|reason=What is a tama, someone might need to create an article on Tama.|date=September 2021}} Kukunochi is found in older records.{{Cite book|last=Aston|first=W. G.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DNPOCgAAQBAJ&dq=Kukunochi+no+Kami&pg=PT123|title=Shinto - The Ancient Religion of Japan|date=2015-11-16|publisher=Read Books Ltd|isbn=978-1-4733-7719-6|language=en}} Along with Toyoukehime this kami is considered a yafunegami.

Many versions state he was born from Izanami and Izanagi, while others state he is the son of Shinatsuhiko.

He is worshipped today on the occasion of roof raising ceremonies and the blessing of new houses.