I know this could be a sensitive topic, but I want to tell what kami (神) (≒ god) is like in Japan,
Although talking about god can be controversial, in Japan, kami is a very casual noun. Due to kami also used as an adjective, I guess it’s used more frequently than English phrases such as “Oh my god.” Is this because there are eight million gods in Japan? Probably right.
Used as an adjective meaning “very good.”
This usage is rampant. Personally I see them most in gaming subjects, such as “神ゲー(kami-gē),” which means “a very interesting, excellent video game.”
Adjective kami is rarely followed by proper nouns. If you want to describe someone as kami with his or her name, make it a sentence as follows.
イチローは神（Ichiro wa kami）
Ichiro is a kami baseball player.
Someone with extremely distinguished talent and ability
One of the similar English words for kami is “legend.” Although used very casually, this is one of the best Japanese copliments.
Kami has connotations such as:
・great master
・best of the best
・unrivaled, unparalleled
・awed, greatly respected
・too good, almost superhuman
By my criteria, I regard following Japanese people as kami
Baseball players
Ichiro, Ochiai Hiromitsu, Nomura Katsuya (Shouhei Otani is becoming one).
Musicians
Yamashita Tatsurou, Nakajima Miyuki
Shogi players
Habu Yoshiharu (Fujii Souta is becoming one)
Catoonists
Tezuka osamu, Fujiko fujio, Takahashi Rumiko
Interpreter, my mentor for studying English
Matsumoto Michihiro
Ask your Japanese friends if calling these people kami is OK. Obviously, I am missing countless people deserved to be kami.
