Home » Mythologies » Japanese Mythology » Susanoo –Japanese God of Sea Storms
Yordan Zhelyazkov
Affiliate Disclosures
Table of Contents
- Who is Susanoo?
- The Next Stage of Susanoo’s Life
- Symbolism of Susanoo
- Importance of Susanoo in Modern Culture
- Susanoo Facts
Susanoo is one of the most famous deities in Japanese Shintoism. As the god of the sea and of storms, he had great importance for the island nation. Unlike most sea deities in other religions, however, Susanoo is quite a complex and morally ambiguous character. With a story that has many rises and falls, Susanoo has even left some physical artifacts and relics that are still preserved in Shinto temples across Japan today.
Who is Susanoo?
Susanoois often also called Kamususanoo or Susanoo-no-Mikoto, meaning The Great God Susanoo. A god of sea storms and the sea in general, he’s one of the first three kami gods to be born from the Creator god Izanagi after his wife Izanami was left in Yomi, the land of the dead. Sosanoo’s two other siblings were Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun and Tsukuyomi, the god of the moon. The sun and moon kami were born from Izanagi’s eyes while Susanoo was born from his father’s nose.
Susanoo is one the most revered deities in the Japanese Shinto religion but he’s also the one with the most violent temper. Susanoo is chaotic and quick to anger, but also ultimately an imperfect hero in Japanese mythology.
Trouble in Paradise
After the lone-father Izanagi gave birth to Susanoo, Amaterasu, and Tsukuyomi, he decided to put them at the top of the Shinto pantheon of kami deities.
- In Charge of Paradise
Of all of them, Susanoo was charged to be the guardian of the pantheon. However, it quickly became obvious that Susanoo was much too temperamental to “guard” anything. He frequently quarrelled with his siblings and created more trouble than he was worth. It wasn’t long before Izanagi decided to banish Susanoo and, to his credit, the storm kami accepted his banishment willingly.
Before leaving, however, Susanoo wanted to say goodbye to his sister Amaterasu and make amends with her, as they had fallen out. Amaterasu questioned Susanoo’s honesty, and the prideful kami proposed a contest to prove his sincerity.
- The Contest
The contest had nothing to do with honesty or sincerity. Each of the two kami had to take the other’s most revered object and use it to create new kami. Amaterasu took Susanoo’s first famous sword, the ten-span Totsuka-no-Tsurugi, and used it to create three female kami. Susanoo, on the other hand, used Amaterasu’s favorite necklace to create five male kami.
Before Susanoo could claim victory, Amaterasu stated that since the necklace was hers, the five male kami were also hers and that the three female kami were Susanoo’s since they were produced from his sword. By this logic, Amaterasu was the victor.
- Susanoo Is Finally Banished
Being quick to anger, Susanoo fell into a blind rage and started trashing everything around him. He destroyed Amaterasu’s rice field, flayed one of her horses, and then threw the poor animal at Amaterasu’s loom, killing one of his sister’s handmaidens. Izanagi quickly came down and enacted Susanoo’s banishment and, in her grief at the death of her horse, Amaterasu hid from the world, leaving it in complete darkness for a while.
Slaying the Dragon Orochi
Banished from heaven, Susanoo descended to the waters of the River Hi in the Izumo province. There, he heard a person weeping and he went in search of the origin of the sound. Eventually, he found an elderly couple and he asked them why they were crying.
The couple told Susanoo about an eight-headed dragon from the sea, Yamata-no-Orochi. The evil beast had already devoured seven of the couple’s eight daughters and he was soon going to come and eat their last daughter – Kushinada-hime.
Angered, Susanoo decided that he wouldn’t stand for this and he would confront the dragon. To protect Kushinada-hime, Susanoo turned her into a comb and put her in his hair. Meanwhile, Kushinada’s parents filled a tub with sake and left it outside their home for the dragon to drink.
When Orochi came later that night he drank the sake and fell asleep by the tub. Susanoo, wasting no time, jumped out, and sliced the beast into pieces with his sword.
As he split the dragon’s tail, however, his sword Totsuka-no-Tsurugi broke into something. Susanoo was puzzled, so he pushed his broken blade further into the monster’s flesh and discovered an unexpected treasure – the legendary sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, also known as the Grass-Cutter or the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds.
The Next Stage of Susanoo’s Life
Thankful for the kami’s help, the elderly couple offered Kushinada’s hand in marriage to Susanoo. The storm kami accepted and Kushinada became Susanoo’s wife.
Not ready to move on with his life, however, Susanoo returned to his heavenly realm and gifted Amaterasu with the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi sword in an attempt to make amends. The sun goddess accepted his penance and the two put their quarrels behind them. Later on, Amaterasu gave the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi sword to her grandson Ninigi-no-Mikoto together with her mirror Yata no Kagami and the jewel Yasakani no Magatama. From there, the blade eventually became a part of the Japanese Imperial Family’s official regalia and is now displayed at the Amaterasu shrine at Ise.
Seeing the newly-found peace between his children, Izanagi decided to present his stormy son with one last challenge – Susanoo was to take Izanagi’s place and guard the entrance to Yomi. Susanoo accepted and is to this day viewed as the guardian of Yomi’s gate which is presumed to be somewhere underwater near Japan’s shores.
This is also why violent sea storms are associated with the dead in Japanese culture – Susanoo is presumed to be battling the evil spirits trying to get out of the land of the dead.
Symbolism of Susanoo
Susanoo is very much a perfect representation of the sea raging around Japan’s shores – violent, dangerous, but also a beloved part of the country’s history and a protector against all external sources and invaders. He had his quarrels with his siblings and with the other kami but he’s ultimately an imperfect force for good.
The symbolism of the storm god slaying a giant serpent or dragon is also very traditional and can be found in other parts of the globe. Many other cultures also have similar myths – Thor and Jormungandr, Zeus and Typhon, Indra and Vritra, Yu the Great and Xiangliu, and many others.
Importance of Susanoo in Modern Culture
As many of Japan’s modern anime, manga, and video game series draw from Shinto mythology and tradition, it’s not surprising that Susanoo or many Susanno-inspired characters can be found in Japanese pop-culture.
- In the video game Final Fantasy XIV, Susanoo is one of the first primal bosses the player has to fight.
- In BlazBlue, Susanoo is the vessel of the character Yuki Terumi, a warrior wielding lighting powers.
- In the famous anime series Naruto, Susanoo is an avatar of the Sharingan ninja chakra.
- There’s also the old anime Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon which details the battle of Susanoo and Orochi.
Susanoo Facts
1- Who is Susanoo in Japanese mythology?
Susanoo was the god of the sea and of storms.
2- Who are Susanoo’s parents?
Susanoo was born from his father, Izanagi, with no help from a female. He emerged from his father as he washed his nose.
3- Is Susanoo a Japanese demon?
Susanoo was not a demon but a kami or a god.
4- Which dragon did Susanoo defeat?
Susanoo killed the Orochi using sake.
5- Who did Susanoo marry?
Susanoo married Kushinada-hime.
6- Is Susanoo good or evil?
Susanoo was ambiguous, demonstrating both good and bad tendencies at different times. However, he remains one of the most loved of all Japanese gods.
In Conclusion
For an island nation like Japan, the sea and storms are important natural forces to reckon with. Susanoo’s association with these forces made him an important and powerful deity. He was highly revered and worshiped, despite his shortcomings and, at times, questionable decisions.
FAQs
What Japanese god is Susanoo? ›
Susanoo, in full Susanoo no Mikoto, also spelled Susanowo, (Japanese: Impetuous Male), in Japanese mythology, the storm god, younger brother of the sun goddess Amaterasu. He was born as his father Izanagi washed his nose.
What is Susanoo associated with? ›In Shinto mythology, Susanoo no Mikoto is a kami, or god, of storms and the sea. He is also associated with marriage, mountains, fields, and agriculture.
What is Susanoo the goddess of? ›Susanoo-no-Mikoto. God of the sea, storms, fields, the harvest, marriage, and love. Susanoo slaying Yamata no Orochi, woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. Other names.
What powers does Susanoo god have? ›Susanoo-no-Mikoto is virtually a god, having vast unlimited powers. As such, he has unlimited strength and superhuman speed. He is also able to control the elements of the storm, generating cyclonic winds, lightning, storm and frost. He also uses powerful weapons, such as the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi sword.
Who is the Japanese god of chaos? ›Amatsu-Mikaboshi (天津甕星) is the God of Evil, Chaos and the Stars to the followers of the Shinto religion in Japan.
What do Susanoo colors mean? ›Naruto World: Susanoo's colour is based on the user's chakra colour. Susanoo's appearance is based on the user's appearance as well. Real World: "Good-guy-bright-bad-guy-dark" cliches, and different colours of the rainbow to differentiate them.
What is the rarest Susanoo? ›Susanoo is a gigantic, humanoid being made of the user's chakra that surrounds them and fights on their behalf. It is the strongest ability available to those who have the Mangekyō Sharingan, and in fact is the rarest to achieve.
Who has the rarest Susanoo in Naruto? ›1) Hagoromo Otsutsuki
Shown as a Susanoo user in the Naruto anime, Hagoromo is undoubtedly the strongest Susanoo user. Manifesting his full-body variant immediately, he could overpower his mother Kaguya in her Ten-tails form.
Amaterasu, in full Amaterasu Ōmikami, (Japanese: “Great Divinity Illuminating Heaven”), the celestial sun goddess from whom the Japanese imperial family claims descent, and an important Shintō deity.
Who is the Japanese god of sea? ›Ryūjin (龍神), which in some traditions is equivalent to Ōwatatsumi, was the tutelary deity of the sea in Japanese mythology. In many versions Ryūjin had the ability to transform into a human shape.
Who is the Japanese god of rain? ›
Okami (淤加美神, Okami-no-kami) in the Kojiki, or in the Nihon Shoki: Kuraokami (闇龗) or Okami (龗), is a legendary Japanese dragon and Shinto deity of rain and snow. In Japanese mythology, the sibling progenitors Izanagi and Izanami gave birth to the islands and gods of Japan.
Who is the king of Susanoo? ›Susanoo (スサノオ), also known as Omni-King Susanoo (オムニキングスサノオ) is the Shinto God of the Seas, Storms and the Underworld and is also one of the two sons of Izanagi. Susanoo is also the Omni-King of the 33rd Multiverse, an entity that is above all living beings in all universes.
Who controls the god Susanoo? ›Izanagi set these three gods at the head of the heavenly bureaucracy and selected Susanoo as its guardian. It soon became apparent that Susanoo was too stormy to remain in the highly-ordered Heavens. Following this realization, Izanagi proceeded to banish his son, a sentence that Susanoo accepted.
Who is more powerful Kurama or Susanoo? ›To sum it up, in the final developmental stage of a Susanoo, the Perfect Susanoo is stronger than Kurama on its own. However, that does not make it stronger than Kurama in every situation because the Tailed Beast can enhance the jinchuriki's abilities and turn the tables in a battle.
Who created Susanoo? ›It was during this cleansing ritual that Izanagi inadvertently gave birth to three new and powerful kami: Amaterasu, the sun goddess, and Tsukuyomi, the moon god, were born from his eyes, and Susanoo, the god of storms and seas, was born from his nose.
Who can summon Susanoo? ›Basically, anyone with an awakened Mangekyō Sharingan in both eyes has the ability to use Susanoo. So that means: Itachi Uchiha.
Is Susanoo stronger than Titan? ›Sasuke's armored susanoo's durability is far greater than Reiner's armored titan. In ribcage stage it protected sasuke from lava. Plus Armored susanoo is equipped with a sword and bows with arrows. The arrows themselves are very fast.
Who is Japan's strongest god? ›| Izanagi-no-Mikoto | |
|---|---|
| Major cult center | Taga Taisha, Izanagi Shrine, Eda Shrine, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, Onokorojima Shrine, Mitsumine Shrine and others |
| Texts | Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, Sendai Kuji Hongi |
| Region | Japan |
| Personal information | |
Seven Lucky Gods are seven deities that are Jurojin, Ebisu, Hotei, Benzaiten, Bishamonten, Daikokuten and Fukurokuju. It is said if you worship all the seven deities, you will be blessed with seven happiness and prevent you from seven misfortunes.
What is fire god in Japanese? ›Ho-musubi, also called Kagu-tsuchi, or Hi-no-kami, in the Shintō religion of Japan, a god of fire.
Is there a green Susanoo? ›
In Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution, Shisui Uchiha can use a green Susanoo. It has blade-like appendages on its shoulders, the side of its face, and along its forearms.
Who is Green Susanoo? ›Shishui Uchiha. Shishui places last since he doesn't show his abilities too often. Shisui's Susanoo is green and has a drill-like spear.
Is Susanoo a chakra mode? ›Susanoo Chakra Mode is an advanced form of Susanoo, which is used by Kōsui Uchiha. This is the third ability that, Kōsui gained when he awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan. Kōsui is the only one that can awaken the Susanoo Chakra Mode. While this form is active, the user has a chakra shroud over their body.
Who Susanoo without eyes? ›Madara started Susanoo without his eyes, confirming that it's a power that does not *need* the eyes to be invoked. However, Sasuke could not use Susanoo. The implication is that because his MS powers faded, and since Susanoo still falls under a MS power, Susanoo could not be activated either.
What color is the strongest Susanoo? ›It is no mystery to us all that Uchiha Madara wields a dark blue Susanoo, which is just as lethal as it is terrifying.
Who is stronger than Susanoo? ›Six Paths Sage Mode ranks among the strongest powers in the Naruto world and is head and shoulders above the Susanoo.
Is there a god Susanoo in Naruto? ›Susanoo, also known as the Tempestuous God of Valour (勇武の荒神, Yūbu no Aragami; ; ; ), is the third ability granted by the Mangekyō Sharingan to those who awaken the abilities Tsukuyomi — which symbolises the "darkness of the spiritual world" and Amaterasu — which denotes the "light of the material world".
What is Naruto strongest eye? ›One of the Three Great Eyes in Naruto, the Rinnegan is the strongest eye of them all.
Who is the god of water? ›Poseidon, in ancient Greek religion, god of the sea (and of water generally), earthquakes, and horses. He is distinguished from Pontus, the personification of the sea and the oldest Greek divinity of the waters. The name Poseidon means either “husband of the earth” or “lord of the earth.”
What is lightning god in Japanese? ›Raijin (雷神, lit. "Thunder God"), also known as Kaminari-sama (雷様), Raiden-sama (雷電様), Narukami (鳴る神) Raikou (雷公), and Kamowakeikazuchi-no-kami is a god of lightning, thunder and storms in Japanese mythology and the Shinto religion.
Is there a Japanese god of thunder? ›
Raijin, also known as Kaminari-sama and Raiden-sama, is the Japanese god of thunder, light and storms. This is one of the most feared deities of Japanese culture.
Is there a Japanese god of water? ›Suijin (水神, water god) is the Shinto god of water in Japanese mythology.
Who are the two sea gods? ›Neptune and Poseidon were the Roman and Greek god of the sea. These depictions are displayed through different mediums of art, like paintings, sculptures and vases. These two porcelain vases show Neptune (on the left) holding his trident. He is surrounded by a river town.
Who are the three gods of Japan? ›There are considered to be three main variations of kami: Amatsukami (天津神, the heavenly deities), Kunitsukami (国津神, the gods of the earthly realm), and ya-o-yorozu no kami (八百万の神, countless kami).
Who is god of thunder? ›Zeus was regarded as the sender of thunder and lightning, rain, and winds, and his traditional weapon was the thunderbolt. He was called the father (i.e., the ruler and protector) of both gods and men.
Who is the Japanese god of weather? ›In Japanese culture, there are actually two gods of weather. They are called Raijin and Fujin.
How do you say Child of thunder in Japanese? ›"Kaminari no Ko" is about a child of the thunder spirit.
Who is the Japanese god of trickery? ›Tanuki is one of Japan's two contributions to the archetypal Trickster, the other being kitsune, or the fox. Trickster is one of the world's oldest mythological figures, and examples abound in mythology and folklore worldwide.
Who is the wife of Susanoo? ›...
| Kushinadahime | |
|---|---|
| Children | Yashimajinumi (Kojiki) Ōnamuchi (Nihon Shoki) |
Kirin. Kirin is only ahead of the Susanoo technique because of the fact it destroyed Itachi's Susanoo. The move is a dominant offensive technique. Sasuke cannot use this technique all the time, but when he has enough chakra, it can be a dangerous attack.
Can Naruto beat Amaterasu? ›
sage mode naruto doesn't have any kind of defense against the amaterasu or at least not an effective one but there are few ways I can think of.
Why Naruto didn t use Sage Mode in Boruto? ›One of the reasons it may appear he doesn't use it is because of the nerf of his abilities, making him use the mode but not its abilities. Away from the guesses/speculations/assumptions, there is one final answer. Naruto still has and uses Six Paths Sage Mode.
Who is god Susanoo Naruto? ›Susanoo, also known as the Tempestuous God of Valour (勇武の荒神, Yūbu no Aragami; ; ; ), is the third ability granted by the Mangekyō Sharingan to those who awaken the abilities Tsukuyomi — which symbolises the "darkness of the spiritual world" and Amaterasu — which denotes the "light of the material world".
What is Tsukuyomi the god of? ›Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto (ツクヨミノミコト, 月読命), or simply Tsukuyomi (ツクヨミ, 月読) or Tsukiyomi (ツキヨミ), is the moon god in Japanese mythology and the Shinto religion. The name "Tsukuyomi" is a compound of the Old Japanese words tsuku (月, "moon, month", becoming modern Japanese tsuki) and yomi (読み, "reading, counting").
What god is Amaterasu? ›Amaterasu is the highest deity in Japanese mythology. In the most famous legend about her, she shuts herself away in a cave, bringing disasters to both the world and heaven.
What type of god is Amaterasu? ›Amaterasu (天照), Amaterasu-ōmikami (天照大神／天照大御神／天照皇大神), or Ōhirume-no-muchi-no-kami (大日孁貴神) is a deity of the Japanese myth cycle and also a major deity of the Shinto religion. She is seen as the goddess of the sun and the universe. The name Amaterasu is derived from Amateru and means "shining in heaven".
Who have the strongest Susanoo? ›1. Sasuke Uchiha. Sasuke's Susanoo is the strongest so far, mainly after he receives chakra from Rikudo Sennin. His Susanoo is also flexible, and it can use Sasuke's jutsu like Chidori and Gokakyu no Jutsu.
Who is stronger Susanoo or Kurama? ›To sum it up, in the final developmental stage of a Susanoo, the Perfect Susanoo is stronger than Kurama on its own. However, that does not make it stronger than Kurama in every situation because the Tailed Beast can enhance the jinchuriki's abilities and turn the tables in a battle.
Who is the supreme god in Naruto? ›Brahma(ब्रह्म), God, paramātmā (परमात्मा), khudā (ख़ुदा), allāha (अल्लाह ) are all synonymous names for Supreme God, the Lord of the universe. The literal meaning of brahma is great or big. He is not only bigger than other big things, He is the biggest of all.
Who is the Japanese god of water? ›Suijin (水神, water god) is the Shinto god of water in Japanese mythology.
Who is strongest god? ›
Indra also called Śakra, the supreme god, is the first of the 33, followed by Agni.
Who is the Japanese god of stars? ›Amatsumikaboshi is the God of Stars who have gifted two stellar-demon swords of light and shadow, Zanseiken and Bakuseiken, to Earth in Nara Japan, later the two swords wielded by qilin daiyōkai Kirinmaru, who rules in the Eastern Lands, and his daughter Rion, in episode "The Girl Named Rion" of Yashahime: Princess ...
What is the god of death Japanese? ›Shinigami (Japanese: 死神, lit. 'kami of death') are kami that invite humans toward death in certain aspects of Japanese religion and culture.
Who is the god of fire Japanese? ›Ho-musubi, also called Kagu-tsuchi, or Hi-no-kami, in the Shintō religion of Japan, a god of fire. His mother, the female creator Izanami, was fatally burned giving birth to him; and his father, Izanagi, cut him into pieces, creating several new gods.
Is Amaterasu a wolf or fox? ›Amaterasu (Japanese: アマテラス), also known as Ōkami Amaterasu (大神天照), is a fictional character from Capcom's video game Ōkami. She is a white wolf based on the Japanese goddess, Amaterasu (天照大御神, Amaterasu-ōmikami), in Japanese mythology.
Who is the most powerful Japanese god? ›| Izanagi-no-Mikoto | |
|---|---|
| Major cult center | Taga Taisha, Izanagi Shrine, Eda Shrine, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, Onokorojima Shrine, Mitsumine Shrine and others |
| Texts | Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, Sendai Kuji Hongi |
| Region | Japan |
| Personal information | |
Itachi Uchiha, who used it with his right Mangekyō Sharingan, is able to quell the flames to some extent.
Why is Amaterasu a wolf? ›Proceeding into Kusa Village, Amaterasu discovered that, inexplicably, the village was still cursed. Amaterasu's ink was drained by the stagnant air, and she was reduced to her mundane white wolf form.