かみのいえ

And so it was

Long ago, in the vast expanse of the universe, there existed a divine couple, Izanagi and Izanami. They stood upon the floating bridge of heaven, gazing down upon the swirling chaos of the primordial ocean below. The heavenly deities tasked them with a grand mission: to create the land of Japan.

Armed with a jeweled spear, Izanagi and Izanami dipped the tip into the ocean and stirred the waters. As they lifted the spear, droplets of salty water fell back into the sea, forming the first island, Onogoro-jima. Descending upon this newly formed land, they built a majestic palace where they performed a sacred marriage ceremony.

Their union was blessed by the gods, and they began to bring forth life. However, their first child, Hiruko, emerged deformed and weak. Heartbroken, Izanagi and Izanami set him adrift at sea in a small boat.

Seeking guidance, they consulted the other divine beings, who revealed that they had not performed the marriage ritual correctly. With renewed determination, Izanagi and Izanami returned to Onogoro-jima and repeated the ceremony, this time with the proper rites.

Their subsequent children came into the world, each one a deity or island. But tragedy struck when Izanami died giving birth to Kagutsuchi, the fire god. Izanagi was consumed by grief and anger. In his sorrow, he slayed Kagutsuchi, and from his blood emerged more gods and creatures.

Determined to reunite with Izanami, Izanagi embarked on a perilous journey to the land of the dead, known as Yomi. There, he found his beloved, but she was bound to the realm of death by consuming its food. Izanagi pleaded with her to return with him to the land of the living, but she could not leave.

In a desperate bid to escape the horrors of Yomi, Izanagi fled, pursued by vengeful spirits. As he reached the entrance, he thrust his divine staff into the ground, sealing the gateway with a massive boulder. This act severed the connection between the worlds of the living and the dead.

Returning to the world above, Izanagi cleansed himself of the impurities of Yomi, giving birth to more gods in the process. Among them was Amaterasu, the radiant sun goddess, who would become a revered deity in the Shinto pantheon.

And so, the land of Japan and its divine lineage were born from the union of Izanagi and Izanami, their story woven into the very fabric of the nation's mythology, shaping its culture and beliefs for centuries to come.

Ame-no-Uzume (天宇受売命)
- The goddess of dawn and revelry, known for her dance that lured Amaterasu out of her cave.

Hachiman (八幡神)
- The god of war and archery, originally a syncretic deity combining Shinto and Buddhist elements.

Inari (稲荷大神)
- The god of rice, fertility, and prosperity, often depicted with foxes as messengers.

Omoikane (思兼神)
- The deity of wisdom and intelligence, often consulted by other gods for his counsel.

Sarutahiko (猿田彦大神)
- The god of crossroads and guidance, known as the leader of earthly deities.

Susanoo-no-Mikoto (須佐之男命)
- The storm god and younger brother of Amaterasu, often associated with the sea and storms.

Toyotama-hime (豊玉姫)
- A sea goddess and mother of the first Emperor of Japan, Jimmu.

Fūjin (風神)
- The god of wind, often depicted as a fearsome demon carrying a bag of winds.

Raijin (雷神)
- The god of thunder and lightning, usually portrayed as a drum-wielding demon.

	A	I	U	E	O
K	か (ka)	き (ki)	く (ku)	け (ke)	こ (ko)
S	さ (sa)	し (shi)	す (su)	せ (se)	そ (so)
T	た (ta)	ち (chi)	つ (tsu)	て (te)	と (to)
N	な (na)	に (ni)	ぬ (nu)	ね (ne)	の (no)
H	は (ha)	ひ (hi)	ふ (fu)	へ (he)	ほ (ho)
M	ま (ma)	み (mi)	む (mu)	め (me)	も (mo)
Y	や (ya)		ゆ (yu)		よ (yo)
R	ら (ra)	り (ri)	る (ru)	れ (re)	ろ (ro)
W	わ (wa)				を (wo)
N	ん (n)

Ame-no-Uzume (天宇受売命)

Hachiman (八幡神)

Inari (稲荷大神)

Omoikane (思兼神)

Sarutahiko (猿田彦大神)

Susanoo-no-Mikoto (須佐之男命)

Toyotama-hime (豊玉姫)

Fūjin (風神)

Raijin (雷神)