Kaze no Kami are a type of malevolent wind-spirit found in Japanese folklore and are a type of yokai - they were believed to be the cause of many illnesses spread via the wind and were greatly feared, especially by those whose professions relied on the wind.
As medicine progressed, belief in the Kaze no Kami died out, but the spirits still have some influence in Japanese culture and Kaze is still a common phrase to describe the common cold.
History[]
Kaze no Kami were invisible spirits who flew across Japan in yellow clouds, any who were caught in these clouds would become very sick and others would experience terrible luck.
While invisible to humans many traditional art showed the Kaze no Kami as ugly, ape-like demons wearing ragged loincloths - symbolic of the pestilence they were reputed to spread.
They are part of a larger sub-family of yokai known as Yakubyo Gami, who all symbolize disease and misfortune.