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In Shinto mythology, there are many different deities, and kami (spirits), one of the most famous Shinto deities is, Amaterasu, who the Japanese Royal Family used to claim descent from.

In Shinto mythology, there are many different deities, and kami (spirits), one of the most famous Shinto deities is, Amaterasu, who the Japanese Royal Family used to claim descent from.

'''Amaterasu''' is a mythical sun goddess in the ancient [[Japanese]] religion of [[Shinto|Shintoism]]. The most famous story about [[Amaterasu]] tells of her retreat to a cave when her brother the storm god ravaged the earth with storms. Without the sun goddess, crops began to die and demons roamed the earth. To lure her out of the cave, another goddess performed a lewd dance outside the cave. Hearing the laughter of the gods, Amaterasu peeked out of the cave and saw herself in a mirror hung on a tree. Awed by her own beauty and brightness, she ventured farther out of the cave, where the other gods caught her and pulled her out. <ref>[http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/amaterasu.html Amaterasu]</ref> The story is reminiscent of the [[Greek]] legend of the abduction of Persephone by the [[god]] of the underworld, [[Hades]]. As her mother [[Demeter]], the goddess of the Earth, roamed in search of her daughter, crops withered in the fields and people suffered terribly.

'''Amaterasu''' is the sun goddess in Shinto. The most famous story about [[Amaterasu]] tells of her retreat to a cave when her brother, Susano'o, the storm god ravaged the earth with storms. Without the sun goddess, crops began to die and demons roamed the earth. To lure her out of the cave, another goddess performed a lewd dance outside the cave. Hearing the laughter of the gods, Amaterasu peeked out of the cave and saw herself in a mirror hung on a tree. Awed by her own beauty and brightness, she ventured farther out of the cave, where the other gods caught her and pulled her out. <ref>[http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/amaterasu.html Amaterasu]</ref> The story is reminiscent of the [[Greek]] legend of the abduction of Persephone by the [[god]] of the underworld, [[Hades]]. As her mother [[Demeter]], the goddess of the Earth, roamed in search of her daughter, crops withered in the fields and people suffered terribly.

'''Hachiman''' is the Shinto god of war, and the divine protector of the [[Japanese]] people. He is worshipped by the peasants as the god of agriculture, and by the fishermen who hope he will fill their nets. <ref>[http://www.pantheon.org/articles/h/hachiman.html Hachiman]</ref>

'''Hachiman''' is the Shinto god of war, and the divine protector of the [[Japanese]] people. He is worshipped by the peasants as the god of agriculture, and by the fishermen who hope he will fill their nets. <ref>[http://www.pantheon.org/articles/h/hachiman.html Hachiman]</ref>