This is part of a series on Japanese culture

Shinto
This article is part of a series on Shinto
Practices and beliefs
Kami · Ritual dance · Ritual purity · Polytheism · Animism · Japanese festivals · Mythology ·
Shinto shrines
List of Shinto shrines · Ichinomiya · Twenty-Two Shrines · Modern system of ranked Shinto Shrines · Association of Shinto Shrines
Notable Kami
Amaterasu · Sarutahiko · Ame no Uzume · Inari · Izanagi · Izanami · Susanoo · Tsukuyomi
Important literature
Kojiki · Nihon Shoki · Fudoki · Rikkokushi · Shoku Nihongi · Kogo Shūi · Jinnō Shōtōki · Kujiki
See also
Religion in Japan · Glossary of Shinto · List of Shinto divinities · Sacred objects · Japanese Buddhism · Mythical creatures
Shinto Portal v t e

Japanese mythology is a system of beliefs that embraces Shinto and Buddhist traditions as well as agriculturally based folk religion. The Shinto pantheon comprises innumerable kami (Japanese for "gods" or "spirits"). This article will discuss only the typical elements present in Asian mythology, such as the cosmogony, the important deities, and the best known Japanese stories.

Mainstream Japanese myths, as generally recognized today, are based on the Kojiki, the Nihon Shoki, and some complementary books. The Kojiki, or "Record of Ancient Matters", is the oldest recognized account of Japan's legends and history. The Shintōshū explains origins of Japanese deities from a Buddhist perspective, while the Hotsuma Tsutae records a substantially different version of mythology.

One notable result of Japanese mythology is that it explains the origin of the imperial family, and assigned them godhood. The Japanese word for the Emperor of Japan, tennō (天皇), means "heavenly emperor".

† Japanese names or terminology are not be transliterated consistently in all sources, on this, see: #Spelling of proper nouns

Creation myth[link]

In the Japanese creation myth, the first deities which came into existence are collectively called Kotoamatsukami, who appeared at the time of the creation of the universe.

Later, the seven generations of kami, which are known as Kamiyonanayo ("Seven Generations of the Age of the gods"), emerged after the formation of heaven and earth.^[1]

According to the Kojiki, these deities appeared after the emergence of Kotoamatsukami. The first two generations are single deities called hitorigami, while the five that followed came into being as male/female pairs of kami: brothers and sisters that were at the same time married couples. In total, Kamiyonanayo comprise 12 deities in this chronicle.^[1]

In contrast, the chronicle, Nihon Shoki, points out that this group was the first to appear after the creation of the universe. It also states that the first three generations of deities are hitorigami and that the other generations of deities are pairs of the opposite gender.

Kuniumi and Kamiumi[link]

Japan's creation narrative can be divided into the birth of the deities (Kamiumi) and the birth of the land (Kuniumi).

The seventh and last generation of Kamiyonanayo were Izanagi no Mikoto ("Exalted Male") and Izanami no Mikoto ("Exalted Female"),^[2] and they would be responsible for the creation of the Japanese archipelago and would engender other deities.^[3][4]

To help them to achieve this, Izanagi and Izanami were given a naginata decorated with jewels, named Ame-no-nuboko ("Heavenly Jeweled Spear"). The two deities then went to the bridge between heaven and earth, Amenoukihashi ("Floating Bridge of Heaven") and churned the sea below with the halberd. Drops of salty water formed the island, Onogoro ("self-forming"). The deities descended from the bridge of heaven and made their home on the island. Eventually, they fell in love and wished to mate. So they built a pillar called Amenomihashira around which they built a palace called Yashirodono ("the hall whose area is 8 arms' length squared"). Izanagi and Izanami circled the pillar in opposite directions, and when they met on the other side, Izanami, the female deity, spoke first in greeting. Izanagi didn't think that this was proper, but they mated anyway. They had two children, Hiruko ("leech child") and Awashima ("pale island"), but the children were badly formed and are not considered gods in their original form. (Hiruko later became the Japanese god, Ebisu.)

The parents, who were dismayed at their misfortune, put the children into a boat and sent them to sea, and then petitioned the other gods for an answer about what they had done wrong. They were informed that Izanami's lack of manners was the reason for the defective births: a woman should never speak prior to a man; the male deity should have spoken first in greeting during the ceremony.^[5] So Izanagi and Izanami went around the pillar again, and, this time when they met, Izanagi spoke first, and their union was successful.

From their union were born the Ōyashima, or the eight great islands of Japan:

• Awaji
• Iyo (later Shikoku)
• Oki
• Tsukushi (later Kyūshū)
• Iki
• Tsushima
• Sado
• Yamato (later Honshū)

Note that Hokkaidō, Chishima and Okinawa were not part of Japan in ancient times.

The divine couple bore eight more offspring, who later became the eight great islands of Japan.^[5] Izanami, however, died giving birth to the child, Kagutsuchi (incarnation of fire) or Homusubi (causer of fire). She was then buried on Mt. Hiba, at the border of the old provinces of Izumo and Hoki, near modern-day Yasugi of Shimane Prefecture. In anger, Izanagi killed Kagutsuchi. His death also created dozens of deities.

The gods who were born from Izanagi and Izanami are symbolic of important aspects of nature and culture.^{[who?][citation needed]}

Izanagi in the underworld[link]

Izanagi lamented the death of Izanami and undertook a journey to Yomi ("the shadowy land of the dead"). Izanagi found little difference between Yomi and the land above, except for the eternal darkness. However, this suffocating darkness was enough to make him ache for light and life. Quickly, he searched for Izanami and found her. At first, Izanagi could not see her for she was well hidden in the shadows. Nevertheless, he asked her to return with him. Izanami spat at Izanagi and informed him that he was too late. She had already eaten the food of the underworld and now belonged to the land of the dead.

Izanagi was shocked at this news, but he refused to give in to her wishes to be left to the dark embrace of Yomi. Izanami agreed to return to the world but first requested to have some time to rest. She instructed Izanagi to not come into her bedroom. After a long wait, Izanami did not come out of her bedroom, and Izanagi was worried. While Izanami was sleeping, he took the comb that bound his long hair and set it alight as a torch. Under the sudden burst of light, he saw the horrid form of the once beautiful and graceful Izanami. The flesh of her ravaged body was rotting and was overrun with maggots and foul creatures.

Crying out loud, Izanagi could no longer control his fear and started to run, intending to return to the living and to abandon his death-ridden wife. Izanami woke up shrieking and indignant and chased after him. Izanami instructed the shikome, or foul women, hunt for the frightened Izanagi and to bring him back.

Izanagi, thinking quickly, hurled his headdress, which became a bunch of black grapes. The shikome fell on these but continued pursuit. Next, Izanagi threw his comb, which became a clump of bamboo shoots. Now it was Yomi's creatures that began to give chase, but Izanagi urinated against a tree and created a great river that increased his lead. Unfortunately, the shikome still pursued Izanagi, who began to hurl peaches at them. He knew that this would not delay them for long, but he was nearly free, for the boundary of Yomi was now close at hand.

Izanagi burst through the entrance and quickly pushed a boulder to the entrance of Yomi. Izanami screamed from behind this barricade and told Izanagi that, if he left her, she would destroy 1,000 living people every day. He furiously replied that he would give life to 1,500.

And so began the existence of Death, caused by the hands of the proud Izanami, the abandoned wife of Izanagi.

Sun, moon and sea[link]

As could be expected, Izanagi went on to purify himself after recovering from his descent to Yomi. As he undressed and removed the adornments of his body, each item that he dropped to the ground formed a deity. Even more gods came into being when he went to the water to wash himself. The most important ones were created once he washed his face:

• Amaterasu (incarnation of the sun) from his left eye,
• Tsukuyomi (incarnation of the moon) from his right eye, and
• Susanoo (incarnation of storms and ruler of the sea and storms) from his nose.

Izanagi went on to divide the world between them with Amaterasu inheriting the heavens, Tsukuyomi taking control of the night and moon and the storm god Susanoo owning the seas.^[6] In some versions of the myth, Susanoo rules not only the seas but also all elements of a storm, including snow and hail, and, in rare cases, even sand.

Amaterasu and Susanoo[link]

Amaterasu, the powerful sun goddess of Japan, is the most well known deity of Japanese mythology. Her feuding with Susanoo, her uncontrollable brother, however, is equally infamous and appears in several tales. One story tells about Susanoo's wicked behavior toward Izanagi, who, tired of Susanoo's repeated complaints, banishes him to Yomi. Susanoo grudgingly acquiesces, but has first to attend some unfinished business. He goes to Takamagahara ("heaven") to bid farewell to his sister, Amaterasu. Amaterasu knows that her unpredictable brother does not have good intentions and is prepared for battle. "For what purpose do you come here?" asks Amaterasu. "To say farewell," answers Susanoo.

But she does not believe him and requests a contest for proof of his good faith. A challenge is set as to who can bring forth more noble and divine children. Amaterasu creates three women from Susanoo's sword, while Susanoo makes five men from Amaterasu's ornament chain. Amaterasu claims the title to the five are attributed to Susanoo.

Torii at Ama-no-Iwato Shrine, Takachiho, Miyazaki Prefecture

Both gods declare themselves to be victorious. Amaterasu's insistence in her claim drives Susanoo to violent campaigns that reach their climax when he hurls a half-flayed pony (an animal sacred to Amaterasu) into Amaterasu's weaving hall and causes the death of one of her attendants. Amaterasu, angered by the display, hides in the cave called Iwayado. As the sun goddess disappears into the cave, darkness covers the world.

All of the gods and goddesses strive to coax Amaterasu out of the cave, but she ignores them all. Finally, the kami of merriment, Ame-no-Uzume, hatches a plan. She places a large bronze mirror on a tree, facing Amaterasu's cave. Then, Uzume clothes herself in flowers and leaves, overturns a washtub and begins to dance upon it, drumming the tub with her feet. Finally, Uzume sheds the leaves and flowers and dances naked. All of the male gods roar with laughter, and Amaterasu becomes curious. When she peeks outside, a ray of light called "dawn" escapes and Amaterasu is dazzled by the beautiful goddess that she sees, this being her own reflection in the mirror. The god, Ameno-Tajikarawo, pulls her from the cave, which is sealed with a shimenawa. Surrounded by merriment, Amaterasu's depression disappears, and she agrees to return with her light. Uzume is then known as the kami of dawn as well as of mirth.

See also: Missing sun

Susanoo and Orochi[link]

Susanoo, exiled from heaven, comes to Izumo Province (now part of Shimane Prefecture). It is not long before he meets an old man and an old woman sobbing beside their daughter. The old couple explain that they originally had eight daughters who were devoured, one after the other, by the dragon, Yamata no Orochi ("eight-forked serpent", who is said to originate from Kosi—now Hokuriku region). The terrible dragon had eight heads and eight tails, stretched over eight hills, and is said to have eyes as red as good wine.^[7] Kushinada-hime ("rice paddy princess") was the last of the eight daughters.

Susanoo, who knew about the old couple's relation to Amaterasu, offers his assistance in return for their beautiful daughter's hand in marriage. The parents accept, and Susanoo transforms Kushinada into a comb and hides her safely in his hair.^[8] He also orders a large fence-like barrier to be built around the house. The fence has eight gates, with eight tables placed at each gate and eight casks placed on each table. Each cask is filled with eight-times-brewed rice wine.

Orochi arrives and finds his path blocked. After boasting about his prowess, he finds that he cannot get through the barrier. His keen sense of smell takes in the sake—which Orochi loves—and the eight heads are now faced with a problem. They want to drink the delicious sake, yet the fence blocks access to the sake. One head suggests that they simply smash the barrier, but that would knock over the sake. Another proposed that they combine their fiery breath and burn the fence to ash, but then the sake would evaporate. The heads begin to search for an opening. They find the hatches, and, eager for the sake, they wish to poke their heads through to drink it. Yet, the eighth head, which is the wisest, warns his brethren about the folly of such an act and volunteers to go through first to ensure that all is well. Susanoo waits for his chance. He allows the head to drink some sake in safety and to report to the others that there is no danger. All eight heads plunge through the hatches and greedily drink every drop of the sake.

As the heads finish, Susanoo launches his attack on Orochi. Drunken from drinking so much sake, the great serpent is no match for the spry Susanoo who decapitates and slays Orochi. A nearby river is said to have turned red with the blood of the defeated serpent. As Susanoo cuts the dragon into pieces, he finds an excellent sword from a tail of the dragon that his sword had been unable to cut. The sword is later presented to Amaterasu and named Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi (天叢雲剣, "Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven", which was later called Kusanagi, "Grass Mower"^[9]). This sword was to feature prominently in many other tales.

Prince Ōkuninushi[link]

Mostly known by his nickname Ōkuninushi, Ōnamuji was a descendant of Susanoo, and represented the power structure localized in the Izumo area. Ōkuninushi's people succeeded in unifying territory to some measure, but later relinquished control to the Yamato-based clans, as described in the Tenson kōrin chapter, below.

Ōkuninushi helps the white hare[link]

A tale of how the merciful Ōkuninushi helped the beleaguered rabbit or hare is of enduring fame, and often told as a sort of a Mukashibanashi or "once upon a time tale". It is found in Kojiki but not recorded in the "Nihongi".

Ōkuninushi (at the time he was just Ōnamuji wihout the august nickname) and his brothers, eighty gods altogher were rival suitors courting Princess Yakami/Yagami (八上比売^?) of Inaba to become his wife. They started out of their homeland of Izumo headed for the neighboring province, when the group encountered a rabbit who has been flayed (by crocodile-fish, usually interpreted as sharks) and lying in agony upon a sea shore. In a wicked-hearted gesture, they advise the rabbit to bathe in the briny sea and blow himself dry in the wind. The rabbit finds himself in worse agony. Ōnamuji, who came lagging behind, takes pity on the creature and tells it to wash himself in fresh water, then roll in the skatterd fleece of the cattail plant's The cured rabbit makes a divined prediction that Ōnamuji will be the one to win Princess Yakami, "though thou bearest the bag,"^[10] (Evidently his brother was treating him as a luggage carrier).

Princess Suseri[link]

As the hare predicted, Princess Yakami pronounce her choice of Ōnamuji for husband before the eighty gods, and they all conspire and kill him twice over. His mother petitions Kamimusubi^(ja), one of the creator deities, and resuscitates him each time, finally sending him off to seek Susanoo who has been banished to the Netherworld (Ne-no-kuni^(ja)), and to obtain his wise counsel.

Here Ōnamuji meets face to face with Susanoo's daughter Suseri-hime and they immediately marry. The crafty Susanoo tests Ōnamuji several times, but, in the end, Susanoo approves the young boy and foretells Ōnamuji's victory over his brothers.

Although the Yamato tradition attributes the creation of the Japanese islands to Izanagi and Izanami, the Izumo tradition claims that Ōnamuji, along with a dwarf god called Sukunabiko, contribute to, or at least finish, the creation of the Japanese islands.

Ninigi's descent to the Middle World[link]

In the Nihongi here begins the section entitled "Age of the Gods: Part II"^[11] (kamiyo ge-kan (神代下巻^?)).

Te episode of the Tenson kōrin (天孫降臨, "Descent of the Heavenly Grandson"^?) begins with description of how the heavnly gods (Ama-tsu-kami) who dwelled in the Heavenly Plains (Takama-ga-hara) peered down upon the earth down below (known by the stilted name Ashihara no Nakatsukuni (葦原中国, "Reedy Plains Middle World"^?). It represents Japan, not the whole wide world), and dispatched various members of their own kind to subjugate it. Amaterasu had decreed her own grandson Ninigi should rule the terrestrial world, but the terrestrial gods (kuni-tsu-kami) were not altogether willing to hand it over, and odd sorts of terrestrial gods were still lurking about making it too dangerous.

Some of the gods first appointed to quell the middle world were derelict in their mission, or joined leagues with the terrestrial gods. After several false starts, two gods were finally successful. They were Ame-no-ohabari^(ja) (aka Itsu-no-ohabari; elsewhere this kami is said to be a sword) and Takemikazuchi^(ja). They embarked aboard the Ame-no-torifune^(ja) or "Deity Heavenly-Bird-Boat"^[12] to their military campaign. These two sabre-rattling deities were able to frighten Ōkuninushi's two sons into flight, causing Ōkuninushi to abdicate and relinquish the territories to the Heavenly Grandson^[13].

Amaterasu was now able to decree the Tenson kōrin (天孫降臨, "Descent of the Heavenly Grandson"^?), also referred to as amori, amakudari (天降り, "descent from heaven"^?), installing her grandson to rule over the terrestrial middle world. She endowed him the Three Sacred Treasures (Imperial Regalia of Japan)^[14][15]:

• the magatama necklace of Yasakani no magatama (now situated in the imperial palace);
• the bronze mirror of Yata no kagami (now in the Grand Shrine of Ise); and
• the sword Kusanagi (a possible replica of which is now in Atsuta Shrine, Nagoya).

The mirror was to be worshiped as a representation of Amaterasu. A number of deities were made to make the descent at this time.

Ninigi and his company went down to the earth and came to Himuka (Hyūga province, today's Miyazaki prefecture), there he founded his palace.

Ninigi's marriage[link]

Ninigi met Konohanasakuya-hime (symbol of flowers), the daughter of Yamatsumi (master of mountains), and they fell in love. Ninigi asked Yamatsumi for his daughter's hand. The father was delighted and offered both of his daughters, Iwanaga (symbol of rocks) and Sakuya (symbol of flowers). However, Ninigi married only Sakuya and refused Iwanaga.

"Iwanaga is blessed with eternity and Sakuya with prosperity", Yamatsumi said in regret, "by refusing Iwanaga, your life will be brief from now on". Consequently, Ninigi and his descendants became mortal.

Sakuya conceived by a night and Ninigi doubted her. To prove legitimacy of her children, Sakuya swore by her luck and took a chance; she set fire to her room when she had given birth to her three babies. By this, Ninigi knew her chastity. The names of the children were Hoderi, Hosuseri and Howori.

Luck of the Sea and Luck of the Mountains[link]

Luck of the Mountains meets Toyotama,in Wadatsumi no Iroko no Miya, painting by Shigeru Aoki (1907), Ishibashi Museum^(ja)

Ninigi's elder son Hoderi or "Fire-Shine" had the gift of the bounty of the sea, and gained his livelihood by fishing (and bore the nickname Umisachihiko or "Luck of the Sea"). The younger son Howori or "Fire-Fade" had the gift of the bounty of the mountains, and was a hunter (and nicknamed Yamasachihiko or "Luck of the Mountains").^[16][17][18]

One day, Luck of the Mountains asked his elder brother Luck of the Sea to exchange their tools and swap places for a day. He wanted to try his bid at fishing. But he did not catch a single fish, and worse, he lost his borrowed fishhook. To make amends, he shattered the very sword he was wearing to make a hundred, then a thousand hooks to replace what he lost, but the elder brother would accept nothing but the original fishhook.

Luck of the Mountains was sitting on a beach balefully weeping, there came to his aid Shiotsuchi-no-oji^(ja) (one of the deities now enshrined at Shiogama Jinja^[19]). The tide god built him a small ship described as being manashikatsuma (无間勝間, 間なし勝間, "basket without interstices"^?), and sent him on a journey to the fish-scaled palace of the Watatsumi (Sea God, often conceived of as a dragon-god). There he had a fateful meeting with the Sea God's daughter Princess Toyotama, and married her. After three years, he remembered his brother and his fishhook, and was longing to return home.

Watatsumi gathered his piscean minions, and soon the fishhook was found in the throat of a bream (tai) and restored to Luck of the Mountains. The Sea God also imparted two magical balls: Shihomitsutama (塩盈珠, "Tide-flowing ball"^?) which could cause a flood, and Shihohirutama (塩乾珠, "Tide-ebbing ball"^?) which could cause water to recede and dry up. And he gave additional strategic advice to gain advantage from his contentious elder brother. So riding on a fathom-long crocodile-fish or shark (hitohiro-wani (一尋鰐^?)), they returned to dry land.^[20]

The pregnant Princess Toyotama built a cormorant feather-thatched maternity house and pleaded her husband for privacy, as she would be reverting to her true shape while delivering her child. But Howori (Luck of the Mountains) was overcome with curiosity, and peeped inside to discover her transformed into a crawling 8-fathom "croc-fish" (shark, dragon^[21]), and scuttered away in fright. Ashamed and disgusted by her husband's breach of trust, she abandoned the newborn and returned to sea. The infant prince was named Ugaya meaning "cormorant house".

Ugaya married his aunt, the sea princess Tamayori and had five children, including Yamatobiko, who was later to become Emperor Jimmu. In the Nihongi, the "Age of the Gods" (kamiyo (神代^?)) section ends here, and is followed by sections under the titles of the reigns of each Emperor.

Mythical legends of emperors[link]

First emperor Jimmu[link]

The first legendary emperor of Japan, best known by his later invented Chinese-style posthumous name of Emperor Jimmu^[22](Transition from God to Emperor).^[23], was referred to in the records by the Japanese title Iwarebiko (actually Kamu-yamato-iwarebiko-no-sumeramikoto). His given name was Hiko-hohodemi.

After taking control of Yamato province he established the imperial throne and acceeded in the year of kanototori (conventionally dated to 660 B.C.). His pedigree is summarized as follows.

• Izanagi is born of his own accord.
• Amaterasu is born from the left eye of Izanagi.
• Oshihomimi is born from an ornament of Amaterasu.
• Ninigi is a son of Osihomimi and Akizushi.
• Howori is a son of Ninigi and Sakuya.
• Ugaya is a son of Howori and Toyotama.
• Iwarebiko is a son of Ugaya and Tamayori.

Jimmu's conquest of the east[link]

The descendants of Ninigi were rooted in Himuka (Hyūga province, in Kyūshū). Iwarebiko (later Emperor Jimmu)

After Jimmu's death, an elder prince named Tagishishimi^(ja) (who was not first in line as successor) moved to consolidate power under him while everyone else was in mourning, and plotted to slay his two younger half-brothers. The plot was suppressed, and the younger prince who had the courage to pluck the bow and shoot Tagishishimi fatally was cede the crown to become the next emperor, Suizei^[24][25].

Eight undocumented monarchs[link]

Of the eight emperors who succeeded Jimmu, there is very little record of their deeds, so they are described collectively under Book III of Nihon Shoki. Regarding Emperor Suizei, the foregoing description of how he suppressed his elder brother's insurrection. And for the other legendary rulers, not much more than their genealogy is given^[26][27].

The 10th, Sujin^[28][29] and 11th emperor Suinin are discussed under their own books of Nihon Shoki^[30][31].

Human sacrifice and haniwa[link]

Nihon shoki (Suinin 28; 2 B.C.) states that when his uncle died, all his closer retainers were buried around in perimeter around the kofun tumulus, but their wailings could be heard for days. (Note: the word junshi (殉死^?) also includes such deaths compelled upon retainers. cf. similar forced sacrificial burials were evidenced from Shang Dynasty grave sites in China). This emperor allegedly decided this practice was cruel and must cease, and four years later, adopted the idea forwarded by Nomi no Sukune to bury clay figurines called haniwa instead of live men^[32][33].

God of Japanese sweets[link]

The Kojiki reports that during the reign of the 11th emperor Suinin, a man named Tajimamori^(ja) was sent to Tokoyo-no-kuni (常世の国, "Eternal Land "^?) in a quest for the tokijiku-no-kaku-no-konomi (時じくの香の木の実, 登岐士玖能迦玖能木実, "fruit of the everlasting fragrant tree"^?)^[34]. He was able to gather eight vine-like trees and eight spear-like trees. But by the time he returned, the Emperor was dead. The Kojiki identifies the fruit as the tachibana, a type of small, sour citrus.

Tajimamori has later been hailed as the god of wagashi (Japanese confection and sweets), revered at Nakashima Shrine^(ja) in Toyooka, Hyōgo^[35], though this is little known trivia to the average Japanese.

The Nihon shoki dates Tajimamori's travel to Suinin 90 (purportedly 61 A.D.), and makes him out to be the great-grandson of Amenohiboko, a Korean prince who came to Japan just two years earlier^[36][37]. However this is anachronistic according to Kojiki, which places Amenohiboko in a much later era.

Yamato Takeru[link]

Much of the book of the 12th Emperor Keikō is taken up by the heroic deeds of his prince, Yamato Takeru.

Creatures[link]

It is probably more typical to find lists of items and weapons that appear in the Japanese mythology. However, here is a tentative list of creatures:

(Creatures in mythological tracts)

• Yamata no Orochi, the eight-headed serpent, discussed above.
• The rabbit aided by Ōkuninushi, and the wani (crocodile, modern scholars assume it to be a type of shark) that flayed it.
• Yatagarasu, a three-legged crow which guided the way to Emperor Jimmu. (In China, such a bird is said to dwell in the sun, and may be related to sunspots; cf. Moon rabbit)
• Kinshi^(ja), blindingly bright golden kite that aided Jimmu; it may be a double of the crow.
• Watatsumi, sea god, often called Ryūjin or Dragon God.
• Yato-no-kami

(Creatures in legendary tracts)

• Mizuchi

(Creatures associated with Shinto deities)

• Ōnamazu^(ja) or Giant Catfish; said to dwell underground causing earthquakes, said to be quelled by the god Takemikazuchi^(ja)

Spelling of proper nouns[link]

See also[link]

• Ainu mythology
• Kami
• Kamui
• Okami
• Japanese Buddhism
• Japanese folklore
• Japanese mythology in popular culture
• Japanese urban legends
• Shinto
• Yokai
• Yurei
• Smallpox demon

References[link]

External links[link]

• Kojiki, Records of Ancient Matters: Yamato-Takeru Slays the Kumaso Brothers
• Romance stories from old Japan, pre-1919—Free to read and full text search.
• A Multilingual Electronic Text Collection of Folk Tales for Casual Users Using Off-the-Shelf Browsers

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This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Tagged since August 2008. It may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Tagged since August 2008. Its introduction may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's lead section guidelines. Tagged since August 2008.

Crispin Freeman
Crispin after teaching at the JVTA-LA in 2009.
Born	Crispin McDougal Freeman (1972-02-09) February 9, 1972 (age 40) Chicago, Illinois[1]
Occupation	Voice Actor ADR Director Script Writer
Spouse	Izobel Carol (2007-present)
Website
http://www.crispinfreeman.com/

Crispin McDougal Freeman (born February 9, 1972) is an American voice actor. His roles have included Alucard from Hellsing, Kyon from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Shizuo Heiwajima from Durarara!!, Karasu from Noein, Togusa from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, as Holland Novak from Eureka Seven, Touga Kiriyu in Revolutionary Girl Utena, Zelgadis Greywords from Slayers, Straight Cougar from S-CRY-ed, Tsume from Wolf's Rain, Guan Yu from Dynasty Warriors, Siegfried Schtauffen from Soul Calibur III, Itachi Uchiha in Naruto, Rude from Final Fantasy VII, Albel Nox from Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, and Red Arrow in Young Justice.

Biography[link]

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Crispin Freeman is the oldest of three children;^[1] he has a younger brother; actor, producer, director, and musician Clark Freeman,^[2] and a sister; actress and musician Cassidy Freeman.^[3] All three siblings attended the Latin School of Chicago, where he graduated in 1990.^[1] He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Williams College, majoring in Theater and minoring in Computer Science. Afterward, he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University in Acting, and performed on Broadway (New York City), at the American Repertory Theater in (Cambridge), at the Mark Taper Forum in (Los Angeles), at Cincinnati's Playhouse in the Park, and at the Williamstown Theater Festival. As a child, Freeman was greatly influenced by anime shows such as Speed Racer and Battle of the Planets. Casey Kasem voiced the role of his favorite character, Mark of Battle of the Planets. He actually wanted to change his name to Mark at one point. Later, he discovered Voltron, Star Blazers, and Robotech, being quoted in the January 1999 issue of America Interview saying, "That show really blew me away." Freeman initially got involved in the anime voice-over industry when a friend of his landed a role in Peacock King. Knowing Freeman was a big anime fan, the friend suggested he call up Central Park Media (CPM) and apply for a job doing English dubs. It was not until he remembered all of the anime shows he watched as a child did he realize that some people are introduced to anime through the English dubbed versions. In 1997, Freeman landed the role of Zelgadis Greywords in Slayers along with Lisa Ortiz, Eric Stuart, and Veronica Taylor. He was the second and final voice actor to get the job, after Zelgadis' original voice actor, Daniel Cronin, lost contact with CPM after a year-long halt in the dubbing. Years later he turned to the American animation voice acting grounds. He been best known for his work in Marvel Comics based productions as Electro from The Spectacular Spider-Man, and Multiple Man in Wolverine and the X-Men. He is currently starring as Red Arrow in Young Justice for DC Comics and Warner Bros. Since then, Freeman has had various roles throughout his career. He has appeared in many video game titles as memorable characters. Such as Albedo from Namco's Xenosaga series, the God of the sun Helios in God of War 3, Haji, Joel the 6th, and Van Argeno in Blood+, the main protagonist Baldur, in Silicon Knights's Too Human, Breakdown in Transformers: War for Cybertron, The Winter Soldier in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, and Iron Man in the sequel Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2. On August 11, 2007, he married Izobel Carol on the island of Hawaii at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. His brother Clark was his best man. In October, 2009, Crispin hosted two virtual town halls on Vokle.com. He took questions from fans, did character voices and read his favorite scary story. His sister Cassidy Freeman, starred in Smallville as Tess Mercer, the acting CEO of Luthor Corp. Freeman is also an educator, giving classes, workshops, and performance lectures in Los Angeles, California, for which information can be found on his official website under "classes".^[4] In addition to classes, Freeman releases a new voice acting podcast at the Voice Acting Mastery website every two weeks.^[5]

Filmography[link]

Anime[link]

• .hack//SIGN - Balmung, AI Harald
• .hack//Legend of the Twilight - Balmung
• .hack//Liminality Vol. 1: In the Case of Mai Minase - Harald Hoerwick
• .hack//Liminality Vol. 2: In the Case of Yuki Aihara - Yuki's Brother
• .hack//G.U. - Sakaki
• Angel Sanctuary - Rosiel
• Angel Tails - Shin
• Argento Soma - Dan Simmonds
• The Big O - Alan Gabriel
• Boogiepop Phantom - Masami Saotome
• Blood+ - Haji, Van Argeno, Joel Goldschmidt VI
• Code Geass - Jeremiah Gottwald
• Cosmo Warrior Zero - Zero
• Cowboy Bebop: The Movie - Telephone Operator
• Chobits - Hideki Motosuwa
• Digimon Frontier - Kouichi Kimura, Additional Voices
• Digimon Data Squad - Thomas H. Norstein
• Durarara!! - Shizuo Heiwajima
• Eureka Seven - Holland Novak
• Eyeshield 21 - Shin Seijuro
• Fencer of Minerva - Sho
• Geneshaft - Mario Musicanova
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG, Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society - Togusa
• Ghost Slayers Ayashi - Genbatsu Edo
• Grave of the Fireflies - Additional Voices
• Haruhi Suzumiya - Kyon
• Hellsing, Hellsing Ultimate - Alucard
• Howl's Moving Castle - The Prince/Turnip Head
• IGPX Immortal Grand Prix - Bjorn Johannsen
• I My Me! Strawberry Eggs - Hibiki Amawa (Male)
• Initial D - Kouichiro "Cole" Iketani
• Irresponsible Captain Tylor - Captain Tylor
• Kikaider - Rei/Kikaider 00
• Kurokami - Reishin Shishigami
• Last Exile - Alex Row
• Lucky ☆ Star - Clerk Sugita, Kyon Cosplayer, Additional Voices
• Mars Daybreak - Rich
• The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Kyon
• Naruto - Itachi Uchiha, Ebisu, Fourth Kazekage, Shibi Aburame, Orochimaru
• Naruto Shippuden - Itachi Uchiha', Ebisu, Fourth Kazekage, Shibi Aburame, Kusuna, Orochimaru
• Night on the Galactic Railroad - Campanella
• Noein - Karasu
• Now and Then, Here and There -Tabool
• Photon - The Emperor
• Ping-Pong Club - Takeda
• Planetes - Colin Clifford
• Please Twins! - Kousei Shimazaki
• Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea - Additional voices
• Read or Die - Joker
• Record of Lodoss War—Chronicles of the Heroic Knight - Spark, Garrack (episodes 16-27), Maar, Groder (Episode 7), Gaberra (Episode 8)
• Rave Master - Shuda, Sieg Hart
• Revolutionary Girl Utena - Touga Kiryuu, Dios
• RG Veda - Taishakuten
• Rurouni Kenshin - Shougo Amakusa, Shibata
• Sakura Wars: The Movie - Brent Furlong
• s-CRY-ed - Straight Cougar
• Scrapped Princess - Shannon Casull
• Shamanic Princess - Kagetsu
• Space Travelers - Jetter
• Slayers (all series) - Zelgadis Greywords (after Daniel Cronin), Additional Voices
• Slayers Premium - Zelgadis Greywords
• Strait Jacket - Isaac Hammond
• Stitch! - Evile, The Experiment 627 (in human form) (Season 2)
• Tekkonkinkreet - Additional Voices
• Tenchi Muyo! - Kamikura (third OVA)
• The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya - Kyon
• Vandread - BC: male voice
• Virgin Fleet - Mau
• Witch Hunter Robin - Amon
• Wolf's Rain - Tsume
• Wolverine - Tesshin Asano
• X-TV - Fuuma Monou
• Zatch Bell! - Wonrei, Kane, Gustav, Mamoru Iwashima, Albert (Sherry's butler), Oren, Albert (Laila's bookkeeper), Additional Voices

Live-Action[link]

• Versus - Ponytail, One-handed Sidekick (English dub, credited as Mark Percy)
• Oldboy - Lee Woo-jin (English dub, not credited)
• Adventures in Voice Acting - Himself
• Anime: Drawing a Revolution - Himself
• Eastbound and Down - Nick Wilson

Non-Anime[link]

• Superman vs The Elite -TBA
• Ice Age: The Meltdown - Additional voices
• Important Things with Demetri Martin - Bystander
• Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated - Howard E. Robertson, Rhino
• The Spectacular Spider-Man - Electro
• W.I.T.C.H. (TV series) - Raphael Sylla
• Wolverine and the X-Men - Multiple Man, Maverick
• Young Justice (TV series) - Speedy/Red Arrow, Guardian, Deadshot, Mirror Master, WayneTech Guard, Museum Curator
• The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes - Scott Lang

CGI[link]

• Final Fantasy VII Advent Children - Rude
• Resident Evil: Degeneration - Frederick Downing

Video Games[link]

• .hack//MUTATION - Balmung
• .hack//OUTBREAK - Balmung
• .hack//QUARANTINE - Balmung
• .hack//G.U. vol. 1//Rebirth - Sakaki
• .hack//G.U. vol. 2//Reminiscence - Sakaki, Azure Balmung
• .hack//G.U. vol. 3//Redemption - Sakaki, Azure Balmung
• Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War - Allen C. Hamilton (uncredited)
• Armored Core 4 - Unseel, Red Cap, Defense Force
• Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana - Delsus (uncredited)
• Ape Escape: Pumped & Primed - Specter (uncredited)
• Baten Kaitos Origins - Heughes
• Batman: Arkham City - Political Prisoners, Officer Michaels, Ernest Ray
• Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance - Eugene (uncredited)
• Bioshock 2 - Additional Voices
• Breakdown - Solus (uncredited)
• Castlevania: Curse of Darkness - Hector (uncredited)
• Castlevania: Lament of Innocence - Mathias Cronqvist (uncredited)
• Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin - English ADR Director
• Champions: Return to Arms - Vai Shir Cat Warrior
• Company of Heroes - Airborne Commander
• Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII - Rude, Kunsel
• Death by Degrees - Alan Smithee (uncredited)
• Diablo III - Male Wizard
• Digimon World Data Squad - Thomas H. Norstein
• Disgaea 4 - Zetta
• Dungeon Siege III - Lucas Montbarron
• Dynasty Warriors series - Guan Yu (uncredited)
• Final Fantasy XIV - Various (uncredited)
• Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon - Old Man (Setos grandpa)
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Togusa
• God of War III - Helios
• Gods Eater Burst - Johannes von Schicksal
• Gothic 3 - Nameless Hero
• Guild Wars 2 - Additional voices
• Halo Wars - Spartan 092: Jerome, Additional Voices
• Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (video game) - Myron Reducto
• Hitman: Blood Money - Rick Henderson
• Justice League Heroes - Superman
• Kessen III - Nobunaga Oda (uncredited)
• Kingdom Hearts II - Setzer Gabbiani, Will Turner
• Lair - Koba-Kai, Wingman
• Magna Carta 2 - Alex Laimon Roodo
• Makai Kingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Tome - Overlord Zetta (uncredited)
• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance - Winter Soldier, Armored Atlantians
• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 - Iron Man, Titanium Man, Subway Officer
• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - Enemy Soldiers
• Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops - High Officer A
• Nano Breaker - Jake Warren (uncredited)
• Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2 - Genma Shiranui, Itachi Uchiha
• Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 - Itachi Uchiha
• Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja 4 - Itachi Uchiha
• Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja 5 - Itachi Uchiha
• Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm - Itachi Uchiha
• Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 - Itachi Uchiha
• Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations - Itachi Uchiha
• Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution - Itachi Uchiha
• Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 - Itachi Uchiha
• Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 - Itachi Uchiha
• Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer - Gann of dreams
• Paraworld - Bela
• Phantom Brave - Raphael (uncredited)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - Will Turner
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow - Will Turner
• Project Sylpheed - Taskent Eagle (uncredited)
• Rave Master: Special Attack Force! - Sieg Hart
• Resistance 3 - Charlie Tent, Winston (Smoking Man)
• Rise of the Argonauts - Achilles
• Rogue Galaxy - Gale Dorban/Jaus
• Saints Row: The Third - Additional Voices
• Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga - Heat (uncredited)
• Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 - Heat (uncredited)
• SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2 - BRONCO
• SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Tactical Strike - BRONCO
• Soulcalibur III - Siegfried Schtauffen (uncredited)
• Star Ocean: Till the End of Time - Albel Nox (uncredited)
• Suikoden Tactics - Iskas (uncredited)
• Tales of Symphonia - Regal Bryant
• Tekken 5/Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection - Bruce Irvin (uncredited)
• Tekken 6/Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion - Bruce Irvin (uncredited)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II - Haldir
• The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Legolas
• Too Human - Baldur
• Transformers: War for Cybertron - Breakdown
• Universe at War: Earth Assault - Prince Zessus
• Urban Reign - Lin Fong Lee (uncredited)
• Valkyria Chronicles II - Zeri
• Watchmen: The End Is Nigh - Dr Manhattan
• White Knight Chronicles: International Edition - Setti, Grazel
• Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht - Albedo Piazolla / Gaignun Kukai (Nigredo) / Jin Uzuki (uncredited)
• Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse - Albedo Piazolla / Gaignun Kukai (Nigredo)
• Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra - Albedo Piazolla / Gaignun Kukai (Nigredo)
• Zatch Bell! Mamodo Battles - Albert, Gustav, Wonrei
• Zatch Bell! Mamodo Fury - Albert, Gustav, Wonrei

Production Credits[link]

Voice Director[link]

• Scrapped Princess
• Space Travelers
• Strawberry Eggs

Script Writer[link]

• Assemble Insert
• Boogiepop Phantom
• Gungrave
• His and Her Circumstances
• Night on the Galactic Railroad
• Photon: The Idiot Adventures
• Pokemon
• Scrapped Princess
• Shamanic Princess
• Space Travelers
• Strawberry Eggs
• Witch Hunter Robin

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Crispin Freeman

• Official website
• Crispin Freeman at the Internet Movie Database
• Crispin Freeman at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Crispin Freeman convention appearances on AnimeCons.com

Voice Acting Mastery - Crispin Freeman's voice acting podcast blog

Interviews

• Crispin Freeman Interview at RPGSite
• Crispin Freeman: Q and A at The Anime Lodge
• "A Very Different Place" - A Crispin Freeman Interview part one
• "A Very Different Place" - A Crispin Freeman Interview part two including audio
• "Anime Today Episode 31" - Crispin Freeman Interview
• 'Kana's Korner' Interview on 91.8 The Fan