Popular Culture
In Western culture, Raijin is usually known as Raiden (rai (雷, thunder) + den (電, lightning)), and depicted as a tall monk wearing a large straw hat (these hats are used widely throughout Asia to keep off rain), with the power to create storms, thunder, and lightning. The first use of this archetype was an appearance with other Eastern elemental gods in the 1986 film Big Trouble in Little China, though Lei Gong, a similar Chinese god, might have influenced the character in the film.
It entered mainstream pop culture with an adaptation of Raiden in the 1992 fighting game Mortal Kombat. He is somewhat similar to his appearance in Big Trouble In Little China, and repeated depictions of the character in multiple games in the series, making him widely recognizable in the United States.
In Hideo Kojima's video game franchise Metal Gear, a character named Jack, codename Raiden, possesses extraordinary abilities, using a katana as his weapon and, later, uses lightning powers to an extent.
Raijin appears in the popular Warcraft III mod Defense of the Ancients as a lightning-themed hero. In the stand-alone sequel, Dota 2, Raijin has a greater resemblance to the Asian mythology.
In the popular video game franchise, Pokémon, Thundurus is an Electric/Flying type Pokémon, reflecting Raijin's abilities.
In Eiichiro Oda's One Piece, the main antagonist in the "Skypiea" arc, "Enel" is loosely based on Raijin. He ate the Devil's Fruit "Goro Goro no Mi" granting him the powers of lightning, and carries a ring of Drums on his back.
Raijin was referred as the Nakamura Rai-jin turbo in Burnout Paradise.
In Season Four of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spin off, Angel a character was introduced named Gwen Raiden a woman known for summoning electricity and using such abilities to facilitate robberies.
In Dota 2 Raijin was imprisoned in the body of a man creating the playable character Raijin Thunderkeg, the Storm Spirit.
In the movie Pom Poko, in operation spector he makes a cameo appearance with fujji.
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