The Foundations: Shinto and the Kojiki

Japanese mythology is primarily rooted in Shinto, the indigenous spiritual tradition of Japan. Its myths were first compiled in the Kojiki ("Record of Ancient Matters") in 712 CE and the Nihon Shoki ("Chronicles of Japan") in 720 CE — the two oldest surviving texts of Japanese literature. These works record not just stories, but the very origins of the land, its people, and the imperial family.

At the heart of these myths is the concept of kami — a word often translated as "god" or "spirit," but encompassing a much broader idea: a sacred quality inherent in natural phenomena, places, objects, and forces. Rivers, mountains, storms, and ancestors can all be kami.

Takamagahara: The Plain of High Heaven

In the beginning, the universe was formless chaos. From this primordial void, heaven and earth separated, and the realm of Takamagahara (the Plain of High Heaven) came into being. The first three kami — Amenominakanushi, Takamimusubi, and Kamimusubi — formed spontaneously and then concealed themselves. They were followed by two more, and together these five are called the Separate Heavenly Deities, who set the creation in motion.

Izanagi and Izanami: Creating the Islands

The most celebrated act of creation in Japanese mythology was performed by the divine couple Izanagi (He Who Invites) and Izanami (She Who Invites). Standing on the Floating Bridge of Heaven, they stirred the ocean below with a jeweled spear called Ama-no-nuboko. When they lifted the spear, the drops that fell formed the first island, Onogoro-shima.

Descending to this island, Izanagi and Izanami performed a wedding ceremony and proceeded to give birth — through their divine union — to the islands of Japan, from the largest to the smallest, and then to a multitude of kami governing nature, the sea, mountains, and rivers.

Death of Izanami and the Birth of Fire

Tragedy struck when Izanami died giving birth to the fire god Kagutsuchi, whose scorching heat burned her fatally. Overwhelmed with grief, Izanagi killed Kagutsuchi in rage — and from the fire god's blood and body, even more kami were born. Izanagi then descended into Yomi, the dark underworld, to retrieve his wife.

In a scene deeply reminiscent of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Izanagi found Izanami but was forbidden to look at her. He broke this command, and was horrified to see her body rotting and covered in demons. Izanami, humiliated and furious, sent the Shikome (hideous women of the underworld) to pursue him. Izanagi escaped, sealing the entrance to Yomi with a great boulder. Izanami vowed to kill a thousand of his people each day; Izanagi countered that he would then create fifteen hundred new lives — establishing the cycle of death and birth.

Amaterasu: The Sun Goddess

After escaping Yomi, Izanagi purified himself in a river. From this ritual washing, three of Japan's most important deities were born:

  • Amaterasu — the sun goddess, ruler of Takamagahara, born from his left eye.
  • Tsukuyomi — the moon god, born from his right eye.
  • Susanoo — the storm god, born from his nose.

Amaterasu became the supreme deity of Shinto and the divine ancestor of the Japanese imperial family. The Yamato emperors traced their lineage directly to her — a claim that lent sacred legitimacy to the imperial institution for over a millennium.

The Cave of Heaven: Amaterasu's Retreat

One of the most beloved myths tells how Amaterasu, distressed by her brother Susanoo's violent behavior, hid inside the Ama-no-Iwato (Cave of Heaven), plunging the world into darkness. The other kami devised a ruse: the goddess Ame-no-Uzume performed a wild, comedic dance that made all the gods burst into laughter. Curious, Amaterasu peered out — and the strong god Ame-no-Tajikarao pulled her fully out, restoring light to the world. It is a myth of community, cleverness, and the irreplaceable importance of the sun.

The Living Mythology of Japan

Unlike many ancient mythological traditions, Japanese Shinto mythology is still a living, practiced religion. Kami are venerated at thousands of shrines across Japan, and the stories of Izanagi, Amaterasu, and Susanoo remain culturally central, influencing art, literature, anime, and national identity to this day.