Japanese Mythology

Amaterasu Omikami (アマテラス) (‘the glorious kami who illuminates from heaven’), also known by her honorific title Ōhirume-no-muchi-no-kami (‘the great sun of the kami’), is venerated as the goddess of the sun and the ruler of the realm of the kami – the High Celestial Plain or Takama no Hara. In many ways, as Queen of the kami, she espouses the grandeur, order, and purity of the rising sun, while also being the mythical ancestor of the Japanese Imperial family (thus alluding to their mythical lineage in the Japanese culture). Her epithet suggests her role as the leader of the gods, with the rulership directly granted by her father Izanagi – the creator of many Japanese gods and goddesses.

Susanoo (スサノオ) Born from the nose of Izanagi, the father of Japanese gods, Susanoo was a member of the trio of Mihashira-no-uzunomiko, thereby making him a brother to both Amaterasu and Tsukiyomi. As for his attributes, Susanoo was perceived as a temperamental, disheveled kami who is prone to chaotic mood swings – thus alluding to his power over the everchanging storms. Mythically, the mercurial nature of his benevolence (and malevolence) also extends to the seas and winds near the coast – where many of his shrines are located in South Japan.

Shinigami (死神, literally "death god" or "death spirit") are gods or supernatural spirits that invite humans toward death in certain aspects of Japanese religion and culture. Shinigami have been described as monsters, helpers, and creatures of darkness. Shinigami are used for tales and religions in Japanese culture.

Inari Ōkami (Japanese: 稲荷大神), also called Ō-Inari (大稲荷), is the Japanese kami of foxes, fertility, rice, tea and sake, of agriculture and industry, of general prosperity and worldly success, and one of the principal kami of Shinto. In earlier Japan, Inari was also the patron of swordsmiths and merchants.

Tsukuyomi no Mikoto (ツクヨミ)

In contrast to many Western mythologies, the Moon deity in Japanese Shinto is a male – given the epithet of Tsukiyomi no Mikoto or simply Tsukuyomi (tsuku probably meaning ‘moon, month’ and yomi referring to ‘reading’). He is one of the Mihashira-no-uzunomiko, being born from washing of Izanagi’s right eye – therefore making him the brother of Amaterasu, the sun goddess. In some myths, he is born from a white copper mirror held in the right hand of Izanagi.

Hachiman (八マン) (also called Yahata no kami) epitomizes the syncretism between Shinto and Buddhism in early medieval Japan. Revered as the god of war, archery, culture, and even divination, the deity possibly evolved (or had grown in importance) with the establishment of various Buddhist shrines in the country after circa 9th century AD. To that end, in a classic example of cultural overlap, Hachiman, the kami of war, is also venerated as a bodhisattva (Japanese Buddhist deity) who acts as the steadfast guardian to numerous shrines in Japan.