Creation Myth of Japan: The Divine Origins of the Land and Gods
Before emperors ruled and shrines were built, before the mountains had names and the rivers found their paths — there was chaos.
Out of this formless void, two divine beings were chosen to shape the world.
This is the sacred beginning of Japan: a myth of creation, cosmic harmony, and the divine love between Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto, the god and goddess who gave birth to the islands, the deities, and the natural forces of the nation.
Step into the origin of everything — where heaven meets sea, and life begins with a drop of saltwater.
The Heavenly Decree to Form Japan
In the beginning, when the world was still shapeless and chaotic, the heavenly gods of Takamagahara issued a profound decree:
“Bring order to this chaos and create the land of Japan.”
This sacred mission—central to the Japanese creation myth—was entrusted to two divine siblings:
Izanagi and Izanami, revered in Shinto mythology as the primordial creators.
The Birth of Onogoro Island: Japan’s First Land
Standing on the Floating Bridge of Heaven (Ame no Ukihashi), Izanagi and Izanami dipped the Heavenly Jeweled Spear (Ame no Nuboko) into the formless sea below.
When they raised it, droplets of saltwater fell and crystallized into land.
This miraculous act gave birth to Onogoro Island—the first piece of land in Japan's mythological origin story.
A Sacred Marriage and Divine Union
Upon descending to Onogoro Island, the two deities performed a sacred marriage ritual called Mi Awase, symbolizing the union of masculine and feminine cosmic energies.
As they spoke of their physical differences, they declared:
"Let us join together and complete what is lacking."
Through this act of divine harmony, they laid the foundation for the creation of the world.
The Formation of the Japanese Archipelago
From their sacred union came the birth of the main islands of Japan: Awaji, Shikoku, Oki, Kyushu, Honshu, and more.
This marks the mythological origin of the Japanese archipelago.
The divine couple continued their work by shaping nature itself—mountains, rivers, forests, and oceans—and by bringing forth a host of kami (gods), each governing a part of the natural and spiritual world.
The Tragic Birth of the Fire God
Their harmony was broken when Izanami gave birth to the fire deity Kagutsuchi.
The intense flames fatally wounded her, leading to her death—the first sorrow in Japanese mythology.
Grief-stricken, Izanagi mourned deeply for his beloved partner.
A Foundational Japanese Myth of Life, Death, and Divine Order
The story of Izanagi and Izanami is not only Japan’s myth of origin, but also a timeless reflection of creation, balance, sacrifice, and rebirth.
It is a central pillar of Shinto beliefs, explaining how Japan’s land, deities, and natural forces came to be.
Through love, union, and loss, their tale lives on as the sacred first chapter of Japanese mythology.