Susanoo-no-Mikoto: Storm God, Serpent Slayer, and Father of Japanese Poetry
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Have you ever heard of a god who is both a troublemaker and a hero?
In Japanese mythology, that god is Susanoo-no-Mikoto (須佐之男命), the stormy deity of the sea and tempests. He is famous for his fierce temper and wild actions that once caused conflict with his sister, the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. Yet, he is also celebrated as a brave hero—slaying the eight-headed serpent Yamata-no-Orochi and bringing peace to the land of Izumo.
Susanoo is a god of contradictions: feared for his destructive power, but also respected as a protector, a bringer of fertility, and a symbol of courage. Now, let’s set out on a journey to discover more about this fearsome yet fascinating deity of Japanese mythology.
Who is Susanoo-no-Mikoto?
So, who exactly is Susanoo-no-Mikoto?
Let’s take a quick look at his basic profile.
Profile of Susanoo-no-Mikoto
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Parent:
Born from the nose of the creator god Izanagi during his purification ritual. -
Siblings:
Younger brother of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu and the Moon God Tsukuyomi. Together they are known as the Three Noble Children (Mihashira-no-Uzunomiko, 三貴子). -
Wife:
Kushinada-hime, the maiden he saved from the serpent Yamata-no-Orochi. -
Children:
Included Ōkuninushi through his lineage, who became a major deity of Izumo mythology. -
Role in the Imperial Line:
Considered a distant male-line ancestor of Japan’s emperors. -
Other Name:
Later identified with Gozu Tennō (牛頭天王), a syncretic deity worshipped as a guardian against plagues and disasters.
The Meaning of His Name
The word “susa” (スサ) in his name has been explained in different ways:
| Interpretation | Explanation |
|---|---|
| To rage, to storm | Shows his nature as a storm god, linked to violent winds and tempests. |
| To advance, to push forward | Reflects his unstoppable drive and impulsive energy. |
| Place name origin: Susa in Izumo | Suggests his worship may have started with a local clan before he became a great deity. |
In short, Susanoo is remembered as the “Raging Man,” a god of both destruction and renewal.
The God in Japanese Belief Today
Although myths often highlight his temper, Susanoo is also remembered as a hero and a protector:
- In Izumo (Shimane Prefecture), he is honored as the hero who defeated Yamata-no-Orochi and became the ancestor of great deities like Ōkuninushi.
- In Shinto belief, he is worshipped as a god of storms and the sea, but also linked to fertility, poetry, and culture.
- As Gozu Tennō (牛頭天王), he was seen as a guardian against epidemics—most famously at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto, home of the Gion Festival.
Because of these many roles, Susanoo is still one of Japan’s most beloved gods, with shrines dedicated to him all across the country.
Mythological Episodes
Susanoo is often remembered as a rough and reckless god—and this image largely comes from the scenes where he clashed with his sister Amaterasu. In the myth of the Heavenly Rock Cave (Ama-no-Iwato), Amaterasu hid herself away because of Susanoo’s shocking actions.
The Usual Interpretation: Symbol of the Storm
Susanoo, as depicted in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, is widely known for his fierce temper and reckless nature, often bringing fear and turmoil wherever he appears.
He rampaged through the heavenly realm and angered Amaterasu by committing outrageous acts:
- Ravaging rice fields
- Destroying sacred halls
- Throwing a horse into Amaterasu’s weaving room
These destructive deeds have long been interpreted as metaphors for storm and tempest. Just as violent winds flatten crops and devastate villages, Susanoo’s actions came to symbolize the uncontrollable force of the storm.
A God of Forests vs. A Goddess of Agriculture
Some traditions interpret this conflict not simply as mischief, but as a clash of two worldviews—one rooted in the forests, the other in the rice fields.
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Susanoo as a forest god
While often remembered as a storm deity, another side of Susanoo appears in myths that tell how he plucked out his own hair and created trees—cedar, cypress, camphor, and maki—teaching people how to use them for houses, ships, and coffins.
His children spread these trees across the land, filling Japan with forests.
In this role, Susanoo can be seen as a god of forests and reforestation, a protector of the natural world. -
Amaterasu as a goddess of rice and agriculture
By contrast, Amaterasu is the Sun Goddess who represents the growth of rice, the cycles of the seasons, and the order of farming life.
For ancient Japan, rice cultivation was not only about food—it was the very foundation of society, bringing stability, prosperity, and national growth.
Her rituals—such as the offering of the first harvest (niinamesai)—symbolize how agriculture stood at the center of Japanese culture and daily life.
From this perspective, Susanoo’s so-called “acts of destruction” against Amaterasu’s rice fields reflect something deeper.
It is not merely a sibling quarrel, but a symbolic struggle between forest and field, nature’s preservation and human cultivation.
The story of Susanoo creating trees from his own hair is recorded in the Nihon Shoki, appearing after his defeat of Yamata-no-Orochi.
Chronologically, this comes later and is not directly connected to his conflict with Amaterasu.
However, by looking at Susanoo’s mythology as a whole, we can reinterpret his earlier rampage from this perspective.
In this sense, the idea is best understood as a modern interpretation of his myths as a whole.
Rethinking Susanoo’s Rage
His story invites us to ask: if we view Susanoo through both the lens of storm and of forest, how should we understand his rage?
Susanoo’s behavior may appear reckless, even outrageous.
Yet when seen either as the fury of a storm god or the protest of a forest deity, his actions take on new meaning.
His fierce outbursts give voice to a timeless question:
How can we balance the gifts of the forest with the needs of agriculture?
So what do you think of Susanoo?
Does he still look like a wild and unruly god?
Or perhaps he was fulfilling his duty as a guardian of nature, fighting to protect what was sacred.
Maybe, in the end, he was not only a troublemaker—but also a brave god who stood up for what truly mattered.
Susanoo and Poetry: The God of Waka and Culture
Though Susanoo is often feared as a wild and tempestuous storm god, did you know that he is also credited with composing the very first waka, the classical poetry of Japan? In fact, he is sometimes called the father of Japanese poetry. But what kind of poem would a storm god compose?
After defeating the serpent Yamata-no-Orochi and marrying the maiden Kushinada-hime, Susanoo built a new home for his bride.
In that moment of joy, he composed a song:
八雲立つ 出雲八重垣 妻ごみに 八重垣つくる その八重垣を Yakumo tatsu Izumo yaegaki tsuma-gomi ni / yaegaki tsukuru sono yaegaki o
Rising clouds of Izumo, like many-layered fences, so too I will build fences to shelter my beloved wife.
This verse, recorded in the Kojiki, is considered the oldest waka (Japanese poem).
It celebrates both the beauty of nature and the love between husband and wife, showing a softer and deeply human side of Susanoo. Perhaps Susanoo was not only fierce, but also a god whose noble strength was guided by love and the duty to protect what he cherished most.
Susanoo is not only the hero who defeated the serpent, but also a cultural hero who gave birth to the tradition of Japanese poetry.
Shrines and Festivals of Susanoo
Even today, there are places in Japan where you can still feel the presence of Susanoo—the brave hero of myth and legend. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous shrines and festivals dedicated to him.
Izumo: The Land of His Legends
Izumo (Shimane Prefecture) is the stage for many of Susanoo’s most famous myths. Even today, you can visit shrines here where his presence still feels close.
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Susa Shrine (須佐神社)
Known as the only shrine in Japan said to enshrine the very spirit of Susanoo. Behind its main hall stands a majestic 1,300-year-old cedar tree, radiating power and presence like the guardian of the land itself.
The shrine is also associated with blessings for marriage, family prosperity, household safety, and protection from misfortune. A sacred spring called Shio-no-i, where Susanoo is believed to have purified the land himself, can still be seen today.
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Yaegaki Shrine (八重垣神社)
Dedicated to both Susanoo and his wife Kushinada-hime, this shrine is tied to the legend of the serpent. It is home to the Mirror Pond (Kagami-no-ike), where Kushinada-hime is said to have once hidden, gazing at her reflection in the water.
Today, the pond is famous for its love fortune ritual, where visitors place a coin on paper and watch it float to divine the future of their relationships. The shrine also features the Couple Camellia (Renri Tsubaki)—two trees joined as one, a living symbol of eternal love.
Together, these shrines show how Susanoo is remembered not only as a storm god and serpent-slayer, but also as a guardian of families, love, and community.
Kyoto: Yasaka Shrine and the Gion Festival
Susanoo is also worshipped under the name Gozu Tennō (牛頭天王), a syncretic deity believed to protect against plagues. The most famous place of worship is Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto, the head shrine of thousands of Yasaka shrines across Japan. Affectionately known as “Gion-san,” the shrine is beloved by locals and visitors alike.
Every July, Yasaka Shrine hosts the Gion Festival, counted among Japan’s three great festivals. It began as a ritual to appease Susanoo (as Gozu Tennō) and pray for protection from disease and disaster.
The shrine itself is also famous for its striking vermillion West Tower Gate, a favorite photo spot for travelers. Visitors pray here for blessings such as protection from misfortune, good relationships, and beauty.
Official introduction (Kyoto Travel)
Through these shrines and festivals, Susanoo lives on—not just as a storm god of ancient myth, but as a guardian woven into the daily lives and traditions of Japanese people.
Conclusion: Susanoo’s Enduring Legacy
Susanoo-no-Mikoto is a god of many faces— a tempestuous storm deity, a fierce serpent-slayer, a guardian of forests, and even the father of Japanese poetry.
His contradictions make him one of the most fascinating figures in Japanese mythology: destructive yet protective, wild yet deeply human. Through his stories, we see not only the ancient struggles between nature and society, but also timeless values of courage, love, and creativity.
Even today, from the shrines of Izumo to the grand Gion Festival of Kyoto, Susanoo continues to be celebrated as a protector of families, communities, and culture.
Perhaps this is why Susanoo’s legacy endures— because he embodies the storm and the calm after it, reminding us that within chaos can also be found renewal and inspiration.