Kodama
Kodama are ancient tree spirits from Japanese folklore, believed to inhabit the oldest and most magnificent trees in the forest. The name kodama literally means "tree spirit" or "echo," reflecting the belief that mysterious sounds heard in the mountains are the voices of these spirits. Kodama are deeply respected in Shinto tradition, where trees are considered living entities with souls deserving of reverence. The spirits are particularly associated with the cedar, camphor, and pine trees that grow in sacred groves around Shinto shrines. Cutting down a tree inhabited by a kodama is considered