Japanese Mythology | Izanagi and Izanami — Where Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi and Susanoo Came From

Long ago, before Japan had any shape at all, two gods stood on a floating bridge in the sky and stirred the sea below with a spear. Their names were Izanagi and Izanami. Together they gave birth to the islands of Japan and to many gods. But their very first child was set adrift on the sea in a boat of reeds, and the birth of the fire god cost Izanami her life. If you know Naruto, you have already heard these names: Izanagi, Izanami, Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi and Susanoo. In the series they are the names of Uchiha techniques, but long before that, they were the gods of the Kojiki, Japan's oldest book. This is the original myth those names come from. (This video is not connected with Naruto or its creators.) Izanagi went down to Yomi, the land of the dead, to bring his wife back. She asked him for only one thing: "Do not look at me." This episode follows him from that broken promise, through his escape and their final parting at the great rock, to the misogi by the river, where Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi and Susanoo were born. This story comes from the Kojiki, the Record of Ancient Matters, compiled in 712, the oldest book in Japan. Some of its original words are spoken in old Japanese, with their meaning given in English. The Nihon Shoki, Japan's other ancient chronicle, tells parts of this story differently. This video follows the Kojiki. This is Episode 1 of our series retelling the Kojiki from the beginning. Original Japanese title: イザナギとイザナミ (Izanagi to Izanami) 📚 CHAPTERS 0:00 The first question 0:40 Heaven and earth open, and the first gods 2:50 Izanagi, Izanami, and the heavenly spear 3:47 Onogorojima and the birth of the islands 6:15 The first child, cast adrift 8:12 Oyashima, the land of eight islands 9:32 The fire god, and Izanami's death 11:56 Into the land of Yomi 13:48 The form he must not see 14:29 Escape from Yomi 16:29 Parting at Chibiki-no-Iwa 18:53 Misogi, and the new gods 20:57 The three noble children 22:40 Next time 🏮 VISIT THE REAL PLACES Several places in Japan are tied to this story, and for some of them more than one place is named. ・Onokoro Shrine, on Awaji Island (said to be linked to Onogorojima, the first island): https://www.google.com/maps/search/?a... ・Yomotsu-Hirasaka, in Matsue, Shimane (the slope between this world and Yomi): https://www.google.com/maps/search/?a... ・Misogi-ike Pond, in Miyazaki (said to be where Izanagi washed himself): https://www.google.com/maps/search/?a... ・Taga Taisha, in Shiga (the shrine of Izanagi and Izanami): https://www.google.com/maps/search/?a... 🪨 A FEW THINGS TO LISTEN FOR ・The story opens with the first child in a boat of reeds, and asks why. Listen for that boat again near the very end. ・"Ananiyashi" is said twice, once by each god. Listen for who speaks first each time, and what changes. ・Izanami asks only one thing in Yomi. The whole second half turns on whether Izanagi can keep it. ➡️ NEXT: Amaterasu and Susanoo. Susanoo longs for his mother's land, and goes up to Takamagahara to face his sister. After that comes the darkness of Ama-no-Iwato. — Animated Stories of Japan. The myths and history of Japan, told as animated stories in English: the same stories and art as our Japanese channel, with English narration and subtitles. Preserving Japan's stories for the next generation. Please note: this channel is made for adults and older teens, and is not aimed specifically at young children. #JapaneseMythology #Kojiki #Izanagi #Izanami #Amaterasu #Shinto #JapaneseFolklore #Japan