Japanese Gods Family Tree

From Izanagi to the Emperor

The Kojiki (712) begins with the kami who appear of themselves at the centre of heaven; seven generations later Izanagi and Izanami bear the islands and the gods. From Izanagi's eyes come the Sun (Amaterasu) and the Moon (Tsukuyomi), from his nose the Storm (Susanoo); Amaterasu's grandson Ninigi descends to earth and in the fifth generation the first emperor Jimmu is born.

Tap a name: its parents, partners, children and the chain running back to the centre of heaven open up. In Shinto the line of the gods runs unbroken into the imperial line; this chart is the record of that claim.

110 kami7 divine generations3 sacred treasures14 lineages and groups

Key facts

In the Kojiki the first kami, Ame-no-Minakanushi, Takamimusubi and Kamimusubi, appear of themselves; seven generations later come Izanagi and Izanami.
Amaterasu (Sun), Tsukuyomi (Moon) and Susanoo (Storm) are born of Izanagi's purification; they have no mother.
Amaterasu's grandson Ninigi descends to earth; in the fifth generation the first emperor Jimmu is born.
Okuninushi is Susanoo's descendant in the sixth generation and his son-in-law; he builds Izumo and hands the land to Amaterasu's line.
The chart covers 110 kami; sources the Kojiki (712) and the Nihon Shoki (720).

Main line: from the centre of heaven to Yamato

Left to right: the kami who appeared of themselves, Izanagi and Izanami, the three great kami and their siblings, the children of Amaterasu and Susanoo, Ninigi's descent and the imperial line; in the lower branch the Izumo line from Susanoo to Okuninushi. Large clans appear as dashed group boxes; tap a box to open its list below. Drag to pan, Ctrl/⌘ + wheel or the buttons to zoom.

First to appearSeven generationsGreat kamiKamiSea / waterMonsterNaturePurification / calamityHumanGroup (opens list)

The three Munakata kami are born from Amaterasu's mouth but are counted Susanoo's daughters because they came from his sword; conversely Ame-no-Oshihomimi is Amaterasu's son. The Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki tell some births differently, as noted.

Lineage explorer: who is whose child?

Type a name or tap a box in the chart. The card shows the parent, partner and child links recorded in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. "Not recorded" means no link is drawn for that figure in this chart, not that none exists in the sources.

Lineages and groups

All 110 kami in the chart, by lineage and group. The chips above filter by type; tap a name and the explorer opens that figure.

Kotoamatsukami 5

Kamiyonanayo (seven generations) 12

Children of Izanagi and Izanami 10

Born of Izanami's death 6

Born of Kagutsuchi's blood 4

Born of Izanagi's purification 11

The three Munakata kami 3

Children of Amaterasu 6

The imperial line 13

The sea palace 2

Line of Susanoo (Izumo) 24

Kami of Takamagahara 11

Monsters 1

Deified humans 2

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the first kami in Japanese mythology?

According to the Kojiki, as heaven and earth separate, Ame-no-Minakanushi, Takamimusubi and Kamimusubi appear of themselves in Takamagahara and hide; two more kami follow them (the Kotoamatsukami). Then come the seven divine generations (Kamiyonanayo); the seventh is Izanagi and Izanami.

Whose daughter is Amaterasu?

Izanagi's. When Izanami dies Izanagi goes to bring her back from Yomi, fails, and on his return purifies himself in a river: washing his left eye Amaterasu is born, washing his right eye Tsukuyomi, washing his nose Susanoo. Amaterasu has no mother; Izanami by then rules the land of the dead.

How is the imperial line linked to Amaterasu?

Amaterasu's son Ame-no-Oshihomimi begets Ninigi by the daughter of Takamimusubi. Ninigi descends to earth with the three sacred treasures and marries the cherry-blossom princess Konohanasakuya; his son Hoori marries Toyotama, daughter of the sea king, and his grandson Ugayafukiaezu marries her sister Tamayori. Of this marriage the first emperor Jimmu is born: Amaterasu's descendant in the fifth generation.

What is the relation between Susanoo and Okuninushi?

According to the Kojiki Okuninushi is Susanoo's descendant in the sixth generation (Susanoo → Yashimajinumi → … → Ame-no-Fuyukinu → Okuninushi); he also becomes Susanoo's son-in-law by marrying his daughter Suseribime. He builds Izumo, then hands the land over to the line of Amaterasu (kuni-yuzuri).

What sources is this family tree based on?

The Kojiki (712) and the Nihon Shoki (720); for the Izumo line the Izumo Fudoki. The two chronicles tell some births differently (the attribution of the Munakata kami, Ukemochi/Ogetsuhime, the origin of Takemikazuchi); these are noted. Names are given in Hepburn romanisation without macrons.

Key facts

Main line: from the centre of heaven to Yamato

Lineage explorer: who is whose child?

Lineages and groups

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