guardian deity of childbirth, newborns, and one's birthplace
A protective kami in Japanese folk belief, watching over pregnant women, safe delivery, infants, and the local area where one was born.
In the past, there was a custom of praying to the guardian deity of childbirth for a safe delivery.
In this region, the guardian deity of childbirth is sometimes identified with the local tutelary deity (ubusunagami).
Compound of 産 (ubu, 'birth') + の (genitive particle) + 神 (kami, 'deity'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is deeply rooted in Japanese folk Shintō and childbirth customs.