Susanowo (Japanese: 須佐之男) (also transliterated as Susa-No-O and - incorrectly - Susano) in Shinto is the god of the Sea and storms.
Legend has it that he was cast out of heaven and killed the eight-headed serpent Orochi by making it drunk with eight bowls of sake, then decapitating each head when it was asleep. He then married the girl that was about to be eaten by Orochi.
He is the brother of Amaterasu, the goddess of the Sun, and of Tsuki-yomi, the god of the Moon. All three were spawned from Izanagi, when he washed his face clean of the pollutants of Yomi, the Underworld. Amaterasu was born when Izanagi washed out his right eye, Tsuki-yomi was born from the washing of the left eye, and Susanowo from the washing of the nose.
There is a long-standing rivalry between Susanowo and his sister. Significantly, he was the one who drove Amaterasu into Amano-Iwato , the 'heavenly rock cave', thus effectively hiding the sun for a long period of time.
He is portrayed in the anime Blue Seed and the Masamune Shirow manga Orion . He is also portrayed as a boss in the video game Shadow Hearts: Covenant.
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Last updated: 10-10-2005 04:13:23
