Izanami

**Izanami** is a deceased Goddess of Death.

## Appearance

In her original appearance, she was a beautiful woman with fair, delicate skin and long, dark hair. Her beauty was such that she even enchanted her twin brother, Izanagi, who also had great beauty, with the two relating to each other.

Those who have met Izanami are all amazed by her dark and silky hair. Although she rarely ties it up, whenever she passes by an accessory shop, she can't resist picking out various beautiful hair accessories.

## Personality

Normally, she is cold and indifferent. However, she can become one with her weapon in battle and is a force to be reckoned with.

Izanami's once happy and ordinary life was forever changed by fire. The once innocent and lively girl was consumed by the flames, replaced by the puppet-like, gloomy girl who emerged from the ashes. "A puppet has no need for emotions or sentiments. It merely follows orders." This phrase is etched deep into Izanami's mind like a curse.

## Background

### Birth

The gods Kunitokotachi and Amenominakanushi summoned two divine beings into existence, the male Izanagi and the female Izanami. Izanagi and Izanami were given a spear decorated with jewels, named Amenonuhoko (heavenly spear). The two deities then went to the bridge between heaven and earth, Ame-no-ukihashi ("floating bridge of heaven"), and churned the sea below with the spear. When drops of salty water fell from the spear, Onogoro was created. They descended from the bridge of heaven and made their home on the island.

Izanami helped stir the oceans on the Bridge of the Heavens, and settled down with Izanagi on Earth, along with other gods, with the pair of twin gods settling in the North, more specifically in the region where present-day Japan is located, on their island.

### Marriage and Children

Eventually they wished to be wed, so they built a pillar called Ame-no-mihashira ("pillar of heaven") and around it they built a palace called Yahiro-dono. Izanagi and Izanami circled the pillar in opposite directions and, when they met on the other side, Izanami spoke first in greeting. Izanagi did not think that this was proper, but they mated anyhow. They had two children, Hiruko ("leech-child"), who later came to be known in Shintoism as the god Ebisu, and Awashima, but they were born deformed and were not considered deities.

They put the children into a boat and set them out to sea, then petitioned the other gods for an answer as to what they did wrong. They were told that the male deity should have spoken first in greeting during the marriage ceremony. So Izanagi and Izanami went around the pillar again, this time Izanagi speaking first when they met, and their marriage was finally successful.

### Izanami's Death

The two gods lived for thousands of years on Earth, but then she gave birth to Hi-no-Kagutsuchi, the Deity of Fire, and died from the severe burns of the flames. Izanagi was so angry at the death of his wife that he killed the newborn child, thereby creating dozens of deities. She was then buried on Mt. Hiba, at the border of the old provinces of Izumo and Hōki, near modern-day Yasugi of Shimane Prefecture.

When she perished, she went to Yomi, a part of Hell, filled with pain and suffering. Izanami ate from the furnace of Hell, as a result, the Goddess was trapped in Shinto Hell. She went to petition the deities of the Netherworld to let her go.

## Quotes

* *"Ah... Midnight, moonlight, surrounded by death."*
* *"The stage is set, my dolls are ready for a curtain call."*
* *"Be consumed by endless curses."*