The Radiant Sun Goddess
Amaterasu is the supreme deity of the Shinto pantheon, goddess of the sun and ruler of Takamagahara, the High Plain of Heaven. Born from the left eye of Izanagi during his purification, she was given dominion over the heavens.
Her full name, Amaterasu-Omikami, means "the great august kami who shines in heaven" — from ama (heaven), terasu (to shine), and the honorific Omikami (great deity). She is venerated as the divine ancestress of Japan's imperial family.
Her most famous myth pits her against her brother Susanoo, whose violent rampage drove her to hide in the cave Ama-no-Iwato, plunging the world into darkness. The assembled kami lured her out with a noisy festival and a mirror, in which her own dazzling reflection drew her forth — restoring sunlight to the world.
This sacred mirror, the Yata-no-Kagami, became one of the Three Imperial Regalia, symbols of Japanese sovereignty. Amaterasu's chief shrine at Ise remains among the holiest sites in Shinto.
Common Questions
Why did Amaterasu hide in a cave?
Susanoo's destructive behavior so distressed her that she withdrew into the cave Ama-no-Iwato, removing the sun from the sky.
Is Amaterasu connected to the emperors of Japan?
Yes. Shinto tradition holds the imperial line descends directly from Amaterasu through her grandson Ninigi.
