The journey of Okuninushi, then known as Onamuchi, to the subterranean underworld of Ne-no-Kuni is one of the most significant chapters in Shinto mythology, marking his transformation from a persecuted young deity into the master and ruler of the terrestrial world. Driven away from his homeland by the jealousy of his eighty wicked brothers, who had repeatedly tried to destroy him, Onamuchi sought refuge in the deep, dark realm of Ne-no-Kuni, the land of roots, where the powerful and unpredictable storm god Susanoo-no-Mikoto resided. Onamuchi hoped to find sanctuary and the strength necessary to overcome his tormentors, but he soon discovered that entering the domain of the tempestuous storm god brought its own terrible dangers.
Upon his arrival in Ne-no-Kuni, Onamuchi did not meet Susanoo first, but instead encountered Susanoo's beautiful daughter, Princess Suseri-hime. The moment their eyes met, they fell deeply in love, immediately recognizing a profound spiritual and physical connection. Suseri-hime returned to her father's great mansion and announced that a magnificent, noble deity had arrived at their gates, hoping to seek his favor and perhaps her hand in marriage. Susanoo, however, was not easily impressed. Looking upon the young Onamuchi, he saw a soft and untested god. Dismissively, Susanoo referred to Onamuchi as 'Onamuji the Ugly' or a mere 'earthly god' and decided that if this young suitor was to survive in the underworld, let alone win the hand of his daughter, he must first prove his resilience, cunning, and divine favor through a series of grueling, life-threatening trials.
For the first trial, Susanoo welcomed Onamuchi into his sprawling palace and guided him to a dark, stone-walled outhouse. This structure was no ordinary guest chamber, but the Chamber of Venomous Snakes. Susanoo pushed Onamuchi inside and locked the heavy wooden door from the outside, sealing him in total darkness with hundreds of slithering, hissing serpents whose venom was lethal enough to kill a deity. As the heavy latch clicked shut, Onamuchi could hear the terrifying sound of scales sliding over stone and the dry, warning rattles of the angry reptiles surrounding him in the dark. Death seemed certain, and there was no escape through the reinforced walls of the chamber.
However, Suseri-hime had anticipated her father's cruel testing. Before Onamuchi had been led away to the chamber, she had secretly slipped him a magical item from her personal treasures: a beautiful, woven scarf of deep spiritual energy known as the Snake-Repelling Scarf. Suseri-hime had whispered instructions to him, explaining that if he waved the scarf three times when the serpents prepared to strike, the beasts would instantly be pacified and subdued. Holding the scarf in the pitch-black room, Onamuchi stood his ground as the snakes reared their heads, preparing to sink their fangs into his flesh. He raised the cloth and waved it thrice through the air. Instantly, a calming, divine aura washed over the room. The snakes lowered their heads, their aggressive hissing ceased, and they peacefully coiled on the floor, allowing Onamuchi to lie down among them and sleep unharmed through the night.
When dawn broke, Susanoo opened the chamber door, expecting to find nothing but the cold, lifeless corpse of the young god. To his immense shock and irritation, Onamuchi stepped out of the darkness completely unscathed, offering a polite bow to his host. Annoyed but not defeated, Susanoo immediately devised a second trial. The following night, he ushered Onamuchi into another dark chamber, this one filled to the ceiling with giant, aggressive centipedes and venomous wasps. The stinging insects and multi-legged crawling beasts filled the air with a deafening buzz, their stingers dripping with agonizing toxins.
Once again, Suseri-hime had come to her lover's aid. She had provided him with a second magical textile: the Centipede-and-Wasp-Repelling Scarf. Just as before, Onamuchi stood in the center of the hostile swarm and waved the sacred scarf three times. The chaotic buzzing subsided, and the centipedes retreated into the crevices of the walls, leaving the young prince to spend another quiet, undisturbed night. When Susanoo unlocked the door the next morning, he was greeted once more by a smiling, healthy Onamuchi. The storm god’s frustration grew, realizing that the young deity possessed unexpected resources or aid.