Susanoo

Susanoo, or Susanoo no Mikoto, is a major figure in Japanese mythology, known as the storm god and associated with the sea and weather. In the principal ancient sources, the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, he is a son of Izanagi and Izanami and the younger brother of Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi. His temperament and mischief lead to his banishment from Heaven, after which he travels to the earthly realm and arrives in Izumo, where his actions are said to cleanse the land and confront its forces of chaos.

In Izumo, Susanoo defeats Yamata no Orochi, an eight-headed serpent, with the aid of divine instruments and cunning. He slays the serpent and retrieves the sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi from its tail, a weapon that later becomes one of the Imperial Regalia of Japan. With Kushinada-hime, the goddess he rescues, he marries and helps restore order in the region. Over time, Susanoo is portrayed as both destructive and protective, embodying the dual aspects of storm and purification.

In modern popular culture, the name Susanoo is widely recognized beyond myth. It appears as a supernatural ability in the Naruto manga and anime, where Susanoo manifests as a colossal chakra-based avatar that can shield and attack on behalf of its user. The term is also used in various media and video games to denote powerful guardian figures or weapons inspired by Japanese myth.

Overall, Susanoo is a central figure in Shinto myth, illustrating themes of chaos, purification, and divine guardianship, and its influence extends into contemporary fiction and gaming.