Japan’s rich cultural history begins with mythology—tales that explain how the world came to be and how the islands of Japan were formed. These stories shaped the identity, beliefs, and traditions of the Japanese people and continue to influence Japanese spirituality today.
The Ainu, believed to be the earliest known inhabitants of Japan, developed their own mythology long before the arrival of outside influences. According to Ainu myth, the world began as a swampy mix of water and earth, lifeless and formless.
To bring order to the chaos, the creator god Kamuy sent a water wagtail, a small bird, to the earth. As the wagtail fluttered its wings and beat its tail over the swamp, solid land formed, eventually becoming the Japanese islands. Kamuy then created people and animals to inhabit this new world. In Ainu belief, nature is sacred, and every creature is seen as part of the divine creation.
Around the 2nd to 1st centuries BCE, waves of migration from mainland Asia brought with them new customs, farming techniques, and spiritual beliefs. These beliefs evolved into Shinto, Japan’s indigenous religion. Like the Ainu faith, Shinto is deeply rooted in nature, but it brought a more elaborate mythology.
Shinto myth begins with chaos—an endless ocean without form. Gradually, the chaos separated into light above (heavens) and heavy darkness below (earth). From this void, the first god emerged, described as a reed shoot growing in the space between heaven and earth.
Two deities—Izanagi (male) and Izanami (female)—were chosen to complete the creation. Standing on a rainbow bridge, they stirred the ocean with a jeweled spear. Drops that fell from the spear formed the first island. Descending to this land, Izanagi and Izanami gave birth to eight children, each becoming one of the main islands of Japan.
Izanagi and Izanami continued to give birth to other deities—kami—who came to rule natural forces: the wind, sea, rivers, mountains, and forests. In one of the most important myths, Amaterasu, the sun goddess, was born from Izanagi’s left eye. She became the supreme deity of the Shinto pantheon and is considered the ancestor of Japan’s imperial family, a belief that helped legitimize the authority of emperors for centuries.
Shinto is not just a mythology—it is a living religion. Central to it is the belief in kami, divine spirits that inhabit everything from mountains to trees to waterfalls. Anything that inspires awe or wonder is believed to house a kami.
From as early as 400 CE, Shinto rituals included traditional dances (known as kagura), performed to honor the spirits. These dances are accompanied by chants and the rhythmic beating of taiko drums, creating a powerful and immersive spiritual experience that links ancient myths with modern faith.
| Period | Date | Description |
| Jōmon Period | c. 14,000–300 BCE | First known settlers in Japan; hunter-gatherers with rich pottery traditions. Ainu culture likely developed during this time. |
| Yayoi Period | c. 300 BCE–300 CE | Migration from mainland Asia brings rice farming, metallurgy, and early Shinto beliefs. |
| Kofun Period | c. 300–538 CE | Large burial mounds (kofun) are built; early Japanese state forms; Shinto and imperial mythologies gain importance. |
| Asuka Period | 538–710 CE | Introduction of Buddhism to Japan, which coexists and blends with Shinto beliefs. Writing systems and recorded myths (like Kojiki and Nihon Shoki) begin. |
From the Ainu’s swampy beginnings to the majestic creation myths of Shinto, early Japanese mythology paints a vivid picture of a world formed by divine forces and nature’s spirits. These myths not only provide insight into how ancient people saw their world but continue to influence modern Japanese culture, religion, and identity. Understanding these stories helps us appreciate Japan’s unique connection between myth, nature, and national heritage.