The heavens were still trembling from the fury of Susanoo-no-Mikoto when he was expelled from the High Plain of Heaven, Takamagahara. Known as the powerful god of storms, seas, and unpredictable passions, Susanoo had pushed his sister, the sun goddess Amaterasu, to her absolute limit. His destructive antics had caused her to retreat into the Heavenly Rock Cave, plunging the cosmos into deep darkness. Though the other deities eventually coaxed Amaterasu out and restored light to the world, they could not tolerate Susanoo's wild behavior. His nails were pulled out, his beard was cut, and he was banished forever from the celestial realm to wander the mortal earth below.
Susanoo descended from the clouds and landed in the remote, mist-shrouded province of Izumo, near the headwaters of the Hi River. The air was cool and filled with the scent of pine and fresh water. As the fallen god walked along the banks of the rushing river, he noticed some chopsticks floating down the current. Recognizing this as a sign that humans or earthly deities lived upstream, he decided to trace the river's path to find shelter. He walked through thick forests and rocky pathways until he came upon a small, humble clearing. There, he encountered a heart-wrenching sight.
An elderly earthly deity couple sat outside their modest home, sobbing uncontrollably. Between them sat a young, extraordinarily beautiful maiden, who was also weeping silently, her face pale with grief and terror. The older man was Ashinazuchi, and his wife was Tenazuchi, both earthly kami of the land. The young maiden was their eighth and last daughter, Kushinadahime. The sight of their profound sorrow touched a chord in the heart of the exiled storm god, who was himself feeling the weight of loneliness and loss.
Approaching the family, Susanoo asked why they were weeping so bitterly in such a peaceful place. Ashinazuchi, wiping away his tears, looked up at the imposing stranger and spoke of their tragic fate. He explained that they once had eight lovely daughters. However, every year for the past seven years, an enormous and monstrous beast known as the Yamata no Orochi had descended upon their home. Year after year, the terrible monster had devoured one of their precious daughters. Now, the time of year had come once again, and the serpent was due to arrive to claim their eighth and final child, Kushinadahime.
Susanoo listened intently, his curiosity and protective instincts aroused. He asked the old man to describe the monster. Ashinazuchi shuddered, describing the beast as a colossal, terrifying serpent with eight heads and eight tails. Its eyes were as red and burning as winter cherries, and its massive body was so long that it stretched across eight valleys and eight hills. Moss, cypress, and cedar trees grew upon its back, and its belly was permanently inflamed, dripping with blood and oozing a terrifying red slime wherever it crawled. To hear of such a monster occupying the mortal realm ignited a spark of heroic determination within Susanoo.
Realizing the opportunity to redeem himself and protect the innocent, Susanoo revealed his true identity. He declared that he was the brother of Amaterasu, the great sun goddess, and that he possessed the power of the heavens. He offered a proposal: he would slay the dreadful Yamata no Orochi and save their last daughter from her grim fate, but in return, he demanded that Kushinadahime be given to him as his wife. Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi, overwhelmed with hope and recognizing the divine nature of the warrior standing before them, eagerly agreed to the match.
To ensure the safety of his future bride during the impending battle, Susanoo used his divine magic to transform Kushinadahime into a fine-toothed comb, which he carefully tucked into his hair. Armed with his legendary Totsuka-no-Tsurugi sword, Susanoo formulated a clever strategy rather than relying on brute force alone. He instructed the elderly couple to build a massive fence around their home, with eight gates built into the structure. Within each gate, they were to construct a sturdy platform, and upon each platform, they were to place a large vat filled with highly refined, eight-fold brewed sake.
Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi worked tirelessly under Susanoo's direction, building the fence, installing the gates, and brewing the potent, thick sake. When the preparations were complete, they waited in breathless anticipation. Soon, the sky grew dark, and the earth began to rumble. The stench of blood and decaying moss filled the air, and from the deep valleys, the colossal Yamata no Orochi slithered into view. Its red eyes glowed like embers in the twilight, and its eight heads hissed in anticipation of another meal.