In the beginning, there was only a formless chaos. From this void emerged the first deities, including the primordial pair Izanagi and Izanami.

Using the Heavenly Jeweled Spear, Izanagi and Izanami stirred the primordial ocean. When they lifted the spear, the drops that fell created the first island, Onogoro.

The divine couple descended to this island and created the Japanese archipelago through their union. Their children became the deities of nature, including Amaterasu, the sun goddess.

After Izanami died giving birth to the fire god, Izanagi journeyed to the underworld to retrieve her, establishing the cycle of life, death, and purification central to Shinto belief.