Susanoo

Susanoo-no-Mikoto is one of the most complex deities in Japanese mythology, known for his fierce temperament and heroic feats. As the younger brother of Amaterasu, the sun goddess, Susanoo is a storm and sea god, associated with chaos and renewal. His myth spans stories of destruction, divine expulsion, and redemption—most famously his slaying of the fearsome eight-headed serpent, Yamata no Orochi. From this battle, he retrieves the sacred Kusanagi sword, a central artifact in Japan’s Imperial Regalia. Susanoo’s legends are recorded in ancient texts like the Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, and Izumo Fudoki. His early tales depict him as impulsive and destructive, yet later myths reveal a protector figure tied to harvest, land, and rain. He is worshipped at major shrines like Susa and Yasaka, and syncretized in later traditions with Gozu Tennō, a god of pestilence. Scholars continue to debate his origins and symbolism—from sea deity to shamanic rain god—highlighting his dual role as both disruptor and life-giver in Japan’s mythic heritage.