In the ancient age of the gods, before the boundaries of heaven and earth were fully settled, the primordial creator deity Izanagi-no-Mikoto found himself weeping in the wake of an immense tragedy. His beloved wife, Izanami-no-Mikoto, had perished from severe burns after giving birth to the fire god Kagutsuchi. Overwhelmed by grief, Izanagi had ventured deep into the dark, shadowy underworld of Yomi-no-kuni, hoping to rescue her and return her to the land of the living. However, the underworld was a place of decay, rot, and pollution. Izanagi's attempt to retrieve his wife ended in horror and heartbreak as he witnessed her ghastly, decomposed form. Pursued by the wrathful Izanami and the hags of Yomi, he narrowly escaped back to the earthly surface, sealing the entrance to the underworld with a massive boulder.
Contaminated by the absolute spiritual filth, death, and decay of Yomi, Izanagi knew he must undergo a thorough spiritual cleansing. He traveled to the sunny, pristine river mouth of Tachibana in Himuka, located in the southern region of Tsukushi. Here, surrounded by the gentle rustle of the wind and the rushing waters, he prepared to perform the sacred rite of Harai, or ritual purification. As Izanagi stepped into the cool, cleansing waters, he discarded his garments and personal adornments. Each piece of clothing and jewelry that touched the ground transformed immediately into various deities, filling the natural world with new life and spiritual essence.
Wading deeper into the river, Izanagi washed himself thoroughly. He washed his lower body, his torso, and his upper body, and from each washing, multiple Kami emerged to populate the earth and the seas. The pinnacle of this divine purification ritual occurred when Izanagi washed his face, which held the greatest concentration of his spiritual power. As he washed his left eye, a brilliant, radiant light burst forth, coalescing into the magnificent goddess Amaterasu-Omikami, the deity of the sun and the heavens. When he washed his right eye, a cool, silvery glow emerged, forming Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, the god of the moon and the night sky.
Finally, Izanagi washed his nose. From the droplets of water shaken from his nose, a powerful, turbulent spirit coalesced. This was Susanoo-no-Mikoto, a god of immense strength, wild passion, and untamed energy. Together, these three deities were recognized as the Mihashira no Uzu no Miko, the Three Noble Children, representing the most powerful and significant deities born from Izanagi's purification. Izanagi looked upon his three magnificent offspring with immense pride and joy. Recognizing their high status and incredible power, he decided to divide his vast realm among them, assigning each of them a grand dominion to govern.
To the radiant Amaterasu, Izanagi gifted his sacred bead necklace, appointing her to rule Takamagahara, the High Celestial Plain, and bring light to the entire world. To Tsukuyomi, he granted dominion over the night and the moon, guiding the tides and the darkness. Lastly, to the wild and energetic Susanoo, Izanagi granted dominion over the vast oceans, the seas, and the turbulent storms that swept across the world. While Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi accepted their divine charges with grace and dignity, Susanoo was immediately overcome by conflict. His spirit was as unpredictable as the tempests he was meant to command. Instead of taking up his throne on the seas, Susanoo let out a lament that shook the very foundations of the earth.
Susanoo wept continuously, his cries so loud and mournful that they caused the green mountains of the earth to wither and dry up, and the rivers and seas to boil and boil over. His tears brought disasters to the mortal realm, causing pestilence, storms, and ruin to spread across the lands. Distressed by this chaotic display, Izanagi approached his youngest son and demanded to know the source of his profound grief. Susanoo replied that he did not wish to rule the seas or the storm clouds; instead, he wished only to descend to the underworld, the land of Ne-no-Kuni, to be reunited with his deceased mother, Izanami. This defiance and refusal to fulfill his divine duties angered Izanagi deeply. In his wrath, Izanagi expelled Susanoo, banishing him from the earthly domain and forbidding him from remaining in his presence.