culture

Japanese Mythology KOJIKI -4-

Last time, Susanoo was banished from Amaterasu.
Dropped to Japan island from a place higher than the sky where the gods live.

Susanoo landed at Izumo.
Susanoo:“Huh, I don’t know what to do.”
When he looked at the river,He saw chopsticks flowing.
Susanoo:“People live upstream?”
He walk upward.
Then a couple was crying.
He asked what happen, and they tell him their daughter will be eaten by the monster tonight.
Susanoo:“What do you mean?”
When he looked at their daughter, he fell in love with first sight.
According to their story, There were eight daughters but a serpent with eight heads ate 7 out of 8 daughters.
Susanoo:“That’s tough.”
Parents:“Yes, by the way, Who are you?”
Susanoo:“I’m Susanoo. I’m God”
Parents:“What!? “
Susanoo:“I will help you guys,but in return, give me your daughter“

One way or another, they will have to lose their daughter, but they were glad that God will take her.

Susanoo thought of a strategy.
The idea was to leave a bottle of strong Sake at the entrance.
If the serpent get drank, kill in the meantime.

That night, the serpent came.
As per his strategy, they drunk sake and they drunk.
Susanoo stabbed them repeatedly with his sword.
While doing so, hit something hard.

Susanoo:“What is it?”
It was a sword.
A better one than one Susanoo has.
Susanoo decided to present it to Amaterasu.
Susanoo:“She will forgive me!”
This would later become one of the three sacred treasures.

And Susanoo left descendants.
He become a hero in the human world.

From here on, I will talk about the descendants of Susanoo.
There were so many descendants of Susanoo that were called Yasogami.
In Chinese character, It means as 80 gods.(八十神)
This does not mean exactly 80, but that many.

Yasogami all fall in love with same woman.
They decided to go see her and propose.
On the way there, they meet a rabbit.
The rabbit skin was red and swollen. It looks painful.

Some of Yasogami:“Hey, What happen?”
Rabbit:“I was hit by shark.”
Some of Yasogami:“Shark? Why shark?Can you swim?”
Rabbit:“No, but I wanted to go to another. island to meet my friends. But I can’t swim so I’ve taken advantage of them”
Some of Yasogami:“How?”
Rabbit:“When I said to sharks that there were more rabbits than sharks, and they answered they outnumbers rabbits. So I said “I’ll count. Line up towards that island.” I was jumping while counting the backs of sharks. But I got so excited. Halfway through that I forgot to count them. They asked me,”Are you counting collectedly?”. I answered “Of course not! I’m almost there!”. They got mad and this happened.”

Some of Yasogami:“You are crazy haha. I know how to heal. You should get in sea and get some wind.”
Rabbit:“Thank for your infomation! I didn’t know that! I will!”

The rabbit did as they said, but instead of getting better, it get worse.
It was in pain and there was nothing the rabbit could do about it.

At the end of the procession of the Yasogami, someone with a larger package appeared.
In fact, he is one of the Yasogami.

One of the Yasogami:“What happen?Your skin looks terrible.”
Rabbit:“People were walking in lines told me to soak in the ocean and get some wind to heal, but it hurts more and more.”
One of the Yasogami:“Ohhh, They are crazy, It’s opposite. Try soaking yourself in fresh water and sprinkling pollen all over your body.
Rabbit:“Opposite!? What the hell is wrong with those guys!”
The rabbit tried to do as he said.

Rabbit:“Oh! I feel confortable. Thank you so much! By the way, What are you doing?”
One of the Yasogami:“I am brother of that crazy guys and now we are all going to see a princess together. I’m being bullied by them. they are making me carry their baggage.”
Rabbit:“I can tell. The princess will choose you”
One of the Yasogami:“Are you sure? But thank you”

They got to where princess was, and they all confessed their feelings.
All of Yasogami:“I like you! I like you!”
Princess:“I choose you!”
One of Yasogami who helped rabbit:“Me?! Thank you!”
Others:“Why did she pick you! Can’t do it! Let’s split!”
One of Yasogami who helped rabbit:“I’ll text you later! See you again!!”

The rabbit is also said that a god called “Marebito”.
Marebito are often in trouble, but it is said that you will receive great blessings if you help this god.

Anyway, what will this crazy group do next?
To be continued next time!

Reference article:
マンガ面白いほどよくわかる!古事記
図解いちばんやさしい古事記の本