Tsumi (罪) is a Japanese word that indicates the violation of legal, social or religious rules.[1] It is most often used in the religious and moral sense.[1] Originally, the word indicated a divine punishment due to the violation of a divine taboo through evil deeds, defilement (kegare) or disasters.[2] When translated in English as "sin", the term covers therefore only one of the three meanings of the Japanese word.[1]