Amaterasu

Overview

Synopsis

Relationships

Cultural References

Image Gallery

Amaterasu
Name
Kanji	天照
Romaji	Amaterasu
Also Known As	宮様 Miya-sama, Her Excellency (by Heaven)
Profile
Race	God
Gender	Female
Status
Status	Alive
Occupation	Sun Goddess Ruler of the Heavens
Relationships
Relatives	Izanami (stepmother/aunt) Shinatsuhiko (elder brother) Ebisu (elder half-brother) Kagutsuchi (elder half-brother) Takemikazuchi (half-nephew) Sakuya-bime (half-niece/granddaughter-in-law)
Debut
Manga	Chapter 36

"You wanna dig out my tush crystal, Yukine?!" This article contains manga spoilers. Read at your own risk.

“	Those who are to live, will live. Those who are to die, will die. And I am to stand witness.	”
—Amaterasu, Chapter 99

Amaterasu (天 (あま) 照 (てらす) , Amaterasu^?) is the Sun Goddess as well as the highest goddess who stands at the top of Heaven.

Appearance

Amaterasu appears to be a young girl of petite appearance. She has light-colored skin, pale blonde hair, and gold eyes with usually non-visible pupils. She is normally seen wearing what appears to be a white kariginu (狩衣 (かりぎぬ) ) with an elaborately tied sash, nagabakama (長袴 (ながばかま) , formal long hakama), and a Divine Cloak wrapped around her arms.

During her first appearance, however, she wears a patterned kimono with a dark-colored kasane-eri (重 (かさ) ね襟 (えり) ) peeking out at her collars.

Personality

As the Highest Goddess, she seems to put the best interests of Heaven above anything else, although she still listens to her fellow Gods and Goddesses. She remains nonchalant even after apparently losing one of her Shinki.

Skills & Abilities

As the supreme deity and the eldest of the Three Precious Children (三 貴 子 (みはしらのうずのみこ) , mihashira no uzuno miko)/Three Great Gods (三 (み) 柱 (はしら) の神 (かみ) , mihashira no kami), Amaterasu sports several powers that seem to be unique to her.

• All-Seeing Eyes: Amaterasu's eyes are the sun itself, allowing her to see anywhere there is sunlight. However, it is implied by the Stray and Father that this ability has blind spots in dark, shadowy places.
• Trial by Pledge (誓 (うけい) の儀 (ぎ) , Ukei no gi^?): Amaterasu can perform a divination of whether Heaven's judgement is correct.
• Calling Shinki: Amaterasu can call other gods' shinki and wield their vessel form as her own, as well as revert them from vessel to human form.
• Excommunication (Name Revocation): Amaterasu can forcibly revoke the name(s) of almost any shinki, including those who are not her own. However, she cannot remove names that were given by the Crafter, since the Words are infused with Izanami's power and therefore abide by the "natural laws of Yomi" rather than Heaven.
• Banishment: Amaterasu can condemn any being, god or mortal.

Sacred Treasures

The Three Sacred Treasures (三 (さん) 種 (しゅ) の神 (じん) 器 (ぎ) , Sanshu no Jingi^?) are three entities that serve Amaterasu. Unlike shinki, they do not die but are rather replaced in a way that is somewhat similar to gods. Also unlike shinki, their names are written using hiragana rather than kanji, and attach a common prefix rather than suffix: Mikagami (みかがみ), Mitama (みたま), and Mitsurugi (みつるぎ). They are thought to represent the mirror, jewel, and sword, respectively– three objects which were symbols of the Japanese emperor's divine right to rule.

Trivia

• The name "Amaterasu" is derived from the sentence "Ame/Ama o terasu" (天 (あま/あめ) を照 (て) らす), which means "[She who] illuminates the heavens". The meaning of her whole name, "Amaterasu Ōmikami" (天 (あま/あめ) 照 (てらす) 大 (おお) 御 (み) 神 (かみ) ), is "the great August kami (deity) who illuminates heaven".