7 lucky gods 七福神 are Japanese folk belief.

the deities are 3 from India and  3 from China. 

only one born in Japan kobe pref Awaji island - Ebisu. the name means foreigner for his parents came to Japan from somewhere unknown named Takamagahara according to the legends of ancient Japan.  

He is an elder brother of the queen goddess Amaterasu who is believed to be a remote ancestor of Japanese imperial family. Their mothers are different.

historical analysis of folk belief is difficult for there are few reliable records and they are often contradictory.   I was born in Nishinomiya, location of the Home shrine of Ebisu. a central figure of the major Japanese mercantile folk belief.  

one thing certain.  he has been supported by merchants,  especially those from Osaka and by fishing industry.  

7 lucky gods to ensure happiness.

พระสุรัสวดี 弁財天 Hindu for artistic skill, protecting waterway, wealth, success  

ท้าวเวสวัณ (คือท้าวกุเวร ในศาสนาฮินดู) 毘沙門天 Hindu  for military power  

พระศิวะ 大黒天 Daikoku Hindu  for power  

ゑびす Ebisu Japan Shinto  for mercantilism  

布袋尊 Buddhists folk belief in China. bodhisattva  

福禄寿 Daoism   deity for longevity, prosperity having many children  

寿老人 Daoism   deity for longevity  


all of them transformed to oriental figures. characters changed to peaceful nature in Tokugawa era, for peace 泰平 was the supreme value of the shogunate.

as for popularity of each hindu god / goddess, Tokyo, Kobe and Hiroshima are cities for พระสุรัสวดี 弁財天

Tokyo has more than 20 courses for 7 lucky gods.  Hyogo pref more than 10, but Osaka has very few.  Osaka is a city for พระศิวะ 大黒天 and Ebisu