Following his dramatic expulsion from Takamagahara, the High Heavenly Plains, due to his disruptive and erratic behavior, the storm god Susanoo-no-Mikoto descended to the mortal realm. He touched down in the region of Izumo, near the headwaters of the Hii River, located in modern-day Shimane Prefecture. As he walked along the banks of the rushing waters, he noticed chopsticks floating downstream, suggesting that there were human settlements further up the river. Following this simple trace of human life, Susanoo traveled upstream until he encountered an elderly earthly deity named Ashinazuchi, his wife Tenazuchi, and a young maiden who was weeping bitterly between them.
Deeply moved by their visible grief, Susanoo approached the trio and inquired about their identities and the cause of their profound sorrow. The old man introduced himself as Ashinazuchi, a son of the mountain god Oyamatsumi, and explained that the crying girl was his daughter, Kushinadahime. He explained that they once had eight beautiful daughters, but every year a terrifying monster known as Yamata no Orochi came to their valley and devoured one of them. Now, only Kushinadahime remained, and the time for the beast's annual return was fast approaching. Overcome with fear and grief, they had no way to save their last child from being eaten by the merciless creature.
Susanoo listened intently as Ashinazuchi described the physical form of the legendary serpent. Yamata no Orochi was a creature of colossal proportions, possessing eight heads and eight tails. Its eyes burned with a bright, blood-red luminescence resembling Chinese lanterns, and its massive body was covered with moss, conifers, and cypress trees. The beast was so enormous that its body stretched across eight valleys and eight hills, and its belly was perpetually raw, inflamed, and oozing with blood. Realizing the scale of this threat, Susanoo saw an opportunity to perform a heroic deed that would redeem his reputation and secure his place in the mortal world.
Susanoo bargained with the elderly parents, proposing that if he were to slay the eight-headed serpent and save their daughter, they must give him Kushinadahime's hand in marriage. Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi, not knowing the identity of the noble stranger, hesitated. Susanoo then revealed his divine lineage, declaring himself to be the brother of Amaterasu Omikami, the great sun goddess. Overjoyed and humbled by this revelation, the parents readily agreed to the arrangement, placing their absolute trust in the powerful storm god's capability to defeat the monster.
To ensure Kushinadahime's safety during the impending battle, Susanoo used his divine power to transform her into a fine-toothed multi-toothed comb, which he carefully tucked into his hair. This allowed him to keep her close and protected while freeing his hands for the monumental tasks ahead. With the maiden secured, Susanoo set his brilliant strategy into motion. Rather than fighting the immense serpent with brute force alone, which could prove fatal against eight heads, he decided to utilize cunning, trickery, and the monster's own sensory appetites against it.
Susanoo instructed Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi to prepare a specialized fortification. They constructed a large circular fence with eight individual gates built into its perimeter. Inside each gate, they erected a sturdy platform, and on each platform, they placed a large, deep vat. Susanoo then instructed them to brew a highly potent, refined alcoholic beverage. This was no ordinary drink; it was 'yashio'ori no sake,' a strong, eight-fold refined sake brewed repeatedly to maximize its strength, flavor, and intoxicating properties. The old couple worked tirelessly, following the god's precise instructions to fill all eight vats to the brim with the highly fragrant and intoxicating liquor.
Once the preparations were complete, Susanoo and the elderly couple waited in silence as the sky began to darken and the air grew heavy with a sulfurous mist. Suddenly, the earth began to tremble, and a low, thunderous rumbling echoed through the hills. The fearsome Yamata no Orochi emerged from the deep forests, its eight pairs of red eyes glowing through the darkness like burning embers. The monstrous beast slithered down to the settlement, its massive weight crushing trees and reshaping the landscape as it approached the newly built fence, drawn by the sweet, rich aroma of the freshly brewed sake.
Finding the eight gates, each head of the serpent acted independently, drawn to a separate vat. Enticed by the exquisite scent of the yashio'ori no sake, all eight heads plunged deep into the vats simultaneously. The serpent drank greedily, gulping down the potent brew without caution. The immense volume of highly refined alcohol quickly took effect. The monster's massive heads began to wobble and sway, its glowing red eyes grew dim, and its heavy limbs lost their strength. Lulled into a deep, alcohol-induced stupor, the gargantuan beast collapsed onto the ground, all eight heads falling fast asleep.