Raijin is a Japanese deity who personifies thunder and lightning; he governs natural phenomena and serves as a guardian of Buddhism. The name combines rai (thunder) and jin (god). He creates the sound of thunder by striking a series of drums (linked drums) carried on his back with a mallet. Beyond merely representing fearsome thunder, he is also worshipped as a deity who brings life-giving rain to rice paddies and fields, nurturing the crops. His origins can be traced back to figures such as the "Yatsu-ikazuchi-no-kami" (Eight Thunder Deities) born from the corpse of the goddess Izanami, as well as deities who appeared when Amaterasu hid in the Heavenly Rock Cave, as recorded in the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki. Famous representations in Japan include the statues of Fujin (God of Wind) and Raijin at Sanjusangen-do Temple—both designated as National Treasures—and the Folding Screen of the Wind God and Thunder God painted by the Rinpa school artist Tawaraya Sotatsu, which is also a National Treasure. These figures frequently appear as motifs in Yamato-e paintings and ranma (transom) carvings. As this suggests, Raijin is a deity often spoken of in tandem with Fujin. Incidentally, statues of Fujin and Raijin stand at the entrance of Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. These statues serve as benevolent guardian deities enshrined on either side of the "Kaminarimon" (Thunder Gate), a symbol of Asakusa. While commonly known as Kaminarimon, its formal name is "Furaijin-mon" (Gate of the Wind and Thunder Gods); the characters for "Furaijin-mon" are inscribed on the side of the large lantern opposite the side that reads "Kaminarimon." They are enshrined to ward off wind and water disasters, protect the temple and the world from calamity, and pray for abundant harvests. Statue of Fujin: Positioned on the right side when facing the gate; depicted carrying a wind bag on his shoulder. Statue of Raijin: Positioned on the left side when facing the gate; depicted with a series of drums on his back and holding a mallet. As a side note, powerful "thunder gods" who command lightning appear in mythologies across the globe. Depending on the civilization, these deities hold various roles—ranging from supreme gods and kings to gods of war or executors of nature's will. Prominent examples of thunder-related deities from around the world include the following: Greek Mythology: Zeus, the omniscient and omnipotent king, ruled over the gods and the world wielding the mighty thunderbolt (*Keraunos*) as his weapon. Norse Mythology: Thor, the son of the king of the gods (Odin), is the mightiest warrior among the Aesir. He is a god who protects humanity and the world, wielding the thunderous hammer Mjolnir. Indian Mythology: Indra, the ancient king of the gods, presided over thunder and warfare; he later became known as "Taishakuten" in Buddhism.