Gods And Goddesses: Ninigi

Ninigi is the grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu, being the god of rice and of the imperial family. He is also known as Ninigi-no-Mikoto. He was sent to earth to plant rice and it is said he is also sent to earth to become emperor of Japan. Amaterasu sent Ninigi to pacify Japan, with three items, a sword, mirror and a jewel.

On earth, Ninigi married the daughter of a mountain god who conceived their child on the first of marriage causing suspicions in Ninigi. He built a house for her with no doors, where Ninigi’s wife would give birth in it. If she was unfaithful, the child would die. Over time three sons were born, one of them called Hikohohodemi would further on have a child called Jimmu-Tenno.

Gods And Goddesses: Uzume

Uzume, also called Ame-no-Uzume-no-mikoto or simple Ame-no-Uzume, is the goddess of dance, joy, good health and dawn. Her brother is Ninigi and is married to Saruta-Hiko.

It was Uzume who got the sun goddess Amaterasu out of the cave with her dancing, where she exposed her breasts and played with her genitals. It was this dance that caused the other deities to laugh, causing Amaterasu to become curious and to investigate.

Uzume also accompanied Ninigi to earth when Ninigi was to be the first emperor of Japan. It was a monster that appeared when Ninigi was about to descend that caused Uzume to approach this monster bare breasted and with a laugh. Uzume asked who this monster was, the answer was Saruta-Hiko, the god who later became Uzume’s husband.