Izanagi

Izanagi-no-Mikoto, the primordial god of creation and life, stands at the heart of Japanese mythology. Alongside his sister-wife Izanami, he formed the islands of Japan and fathered numerous deities, including Amaterasu (sun), Tsukuyomi (moon), and Susanoo (storms). As recorded in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, Izanagi and Izanami descended to the island of Onogoro, performed a sacred marriage ritual, and brought forth the Japanese archipelago. Tragedy struck when Izanami died giving birth to the fire god, leading Izanagi to journey to the underworld, Yomi, to retrieve her—only to flee in horror upon discovering her decayed form. After sealing the entrance to Yomi, Izanagi performed a ritual purification, from which Japan’s most revered gods were born. These divine acts established the foundations of Shinto belief, portraying Izanagi as a powerful yet sorrowful figure who bridges life and death. His legacy endures in major shrines like Taga Taisha and Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and in the sacred stories that shaped Japan’s imperial lineage and spiritual worldview.