noun
Sarutahiko; Sarutahiko-no-Ōkami
A Shinto deity associated with guidance, crossroads, and the earthly kami. Often depicted with a long nose and a red face.
猿田彦は天孫降臨の際に道案内をした神様です。
Sarutahiko is the deity who guided the heavenly grandson during his descent to earth.
神社の境内に猿田彦の石像が立っている。
A stone statue of Sarutahiko stands in the shrine grounds.
The name is of ancient origin; the exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 猿 (monkey), 田 (rice field), and 彦 (lad) are conventionally associated with the deity, but the relationship to the original meaning is unclear.