Author Archives: Tales of Japan

Now safely on the Earth once more, Izanagi named Izanami, who had said she would kill a thousand people a day, the Great God Yomotsu, or the Great God of Yomi. He also named her the Great God Chishiki, or the god who gives chase on paths, after the way she had pursued him asContinue reading “Episode1-7 Precious children”

Izanami, hurt and vengeful, summoned forth Yomotsu-Shikome, the death-tainted hag of Yomi, and had her chase after Izanagi. She caught up to him with her fast legs in no time at all. Hup! Izanagi tossed his Kuro-Mikazura, the talisman for long life he kept in his hair, at her. Grapes sprouted forth from the groundContinue reading “Episode1-6 Long silence”

Izanagi tried to forget about Izanami. But how could he forget about her or give up on her? The two gods had been together as a pair from the time they were born. He loved her from the depths of his heart. I want to meet her again. Izanagi set off for the land ofContinue reading “Episode1-5 The land of Yomi where the dead lived”

Izanagi and Izanami had given birth to many gods, but no matter how many children they had, each new life was still like a miracle. Every day was a joyful one for Izanagi and Izanami. The world was not yet complete, though. What other gods did it need? What gods would be born next? ImagineContinue reading “Episode1-4 The god of Fire”

Once they had cried all the tears they could, Izanagi and Izanami returned to the celestial world to speak to the gods there. They burned the shoulder bone of a deer in a divining ritual. The smell of burning cherry blossom wood filled the air. They looked at the cracks in the bones, and theContinue reading “Episode1-3 Birth of a country”

One day, Izanagi and Izanami were summoned by the supreme celestial gods. They were told to rule over the floating land, and to create something firm. You see, the world then wasn’t solid in those days the way it is now. These gods gave Izanagi and Izanami Ame-no-Nuboko, the celestial pike. While a pike isContinue reading “Episode1-2 The Sea’s song”

Long, long ago. Long before you were ever born. Long before I was ever born. In a time when nothing existed in the world. Or perhaps a time when everything already existed in the world. That is when a god appeared in Takama-no-Hara, the celestial world high above. How strange. Nothing and nobody else existedContinue reading “Episode1-1 The beginning”