Amaterasu

For the Persona, see Amaterasu (Persona).

Amaterasu
アマテラス
SMT2DeSumDCFI Artwork from Shin Megami Tensei II Artwork from Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner Artwork from Devil Children Fire Book and Ice Book
Origin	Japanese culture Shinto
Race(s)	AmatsuShin Megami Tensei II Shin Megami Tensei if... Shin Megami Tensei: Nine Shin Megami Tensei IV Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Colosseum 20XX BossDevil Children Black Book and Red Book (PlayStation) DeityShin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2 GaeanShin Megami Tensei (Super CD-ROM²) GodDevil Children Fire Book and Ice Book MegamiShin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Revelation Shin Megami Tensei: J Devil Survivor Devil Survivor: Overclocked Devil Survivor 2 Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker Shin Megami Tensei Trading Card: Card Summoner TenjinMajin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis
Alignment(s)	Neutral-ChaosShin Megami Tensei (Super CD-ROM²) LightShin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Light-LawShin Megami Tensei II Shin Megami Tensei if... Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Colosseum 20XX LawShin Megami Tensei IV Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse

Amaterasu is a Demon in the Megami Tensei franchise.

Profile

Origin

Amaterasu, also known as Amaterasu-Ōmikami, is the sun goddess in Japanese mythology and one of the central deities of Shinto. She appears in the Kojiki (712 CE) and Nihon Shoki (720 CE) as the foremost of the “three noble children” of Izanagi, alongside Susano-o and Tsukuyomi. She is most commonly said to have been born from Izanagi’s left eye during his purification (misogi) following his return from Yomi, the land of the dead, though alternate traditions describe her as being deliberately created to rule heaven or emerging from a mirror held by Izanagi. As the sun kami, she is entrusted with rule over the celestial realm, Takamagahara (the Plain of High Heaven).

In the Heavenly Rock Cave (Ama-no-Iwato) myth, Amaterasu withdraws into a cave following the destructive actions of Susano-o, plunging the world into darkness. The assembled deities perform ritual acts to lure her out, restoring light to the world. She is also associated with the ukei (pledge trial) with Susano-o, which results in the birth of additional deities, and in some traditions is linked to the death of the food goddess Ukemochi, contributing to her estrangement from Tsukuyomi.

Following the establishment of her authority, Amaterasu directs the pacification of Ashihara no Nakatsukuni, the terrestrial realm, through emissaries sent to negotiate with the earthly deities. This culminates in the tenson kōrin (descent of the heavenly grandson), in which her grandson Ninigi is dispatched to rule the earth. He is entrusted with the Three Sacred Treasures, the sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi, the mirror Yata no Kagami, and the jewel Yasakani no Magatama, which serve as symbols of divine authority and as a vessel for her spirit. Through Ninigi, she is regarded as the divine ancestor of the Japanese imperial line.

Amaterasu remains closely associated with the imperial lineage in later mythology, aiding Emperor Jinmu during his eastern expedition by dispatching the Yatagarasu as a divine guide. She is enshrined through the imperial regalia, particularly the mirror later housed at Ise Grand Shrine. While typically regarded as a goddess, some medieval interpretations considered Amaterasu to be male.

Design

Amaterasu's Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne design is male. The design was intended to be more androgynous due to the usual belief that Amaterasu is female, but did not end up as such because of convenience in making the model.

Gameplay

For complete gameplay information, see Gameplay:Amaterasu.

Compendium

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Compendium Entries
Shin Megami Tensei II (A-Mode DDS)	出身地：日本 日本神話中の最高神で、高天原を治めた太陽神。名を天照大神(アマテラスノオオミカミ)と書く。伊邪那岐命(イザナギノミコト)、伊弉冉尊(イザナミノミコト)の二神の三子中、第一子とされる。伊邪那岐命が黄泉の国から逃げ帰り阿波岐原(あわぎはら)で禊をした時、左の目から生まれた。現在も、伊勢神宮をはじめ各地の神明社にまつられている。 Translation: Place of origin: Japan
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne	The Japanese sun goddess who rules over the High Plain of Heaven. Her name means, 'she who illuminates the heavens'. She was born from Izanagi's left eye.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster	The Japanese sun goddess who rules over the High Plain of Heaven. Her name means "she who illuminates the heavens." She was born from Izanagi's left eye.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey	The Japanese goddess of light. She is one of the leading deities of Takaamagahara, the land of the Amatsu gods. A deification of the sun, she also governs life. It is said she was born from the left eye of Izanagi.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux
Shin Megami Tensei IV	The Japanese goddess of light. She is one of the leading deities of Takaamagahara, the land of the Amatsu gods. A deification of the sun, she also governs life. It is said she was born from the left eye of Izanagi.
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse	The Japanese goddess of light. She is one of the leading deities of Takaamagahara, the land of the Amatsu gods. A deification of the sun, she also governs life. It is said she was born from the left eye of Izanagi.
Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2	The Japanese goddess of the sun and light. She is one of the chief deities of Takaamagahara, the land of the Amatsu gods. Her most known tale is the time the world was shrouded in darkness when she withdrew into Amano-iwato, annoyed at her brother Susano-os' fit of rage. As does the Ise Shrine, many worship her as the goddess of nature.
Devil Children Black Book and Red Book	大地をゆたかに　するいだいな神　とても強い力を　持っているが　ぼうりょくは　嫌い Translation:
Devil Children Fire Book and Ice Book	太陽とゆたかさの女神　ツクヨミとスサノオは　兄弟である　彼女が泣き出すと　太陽は　姿をかくし　出てこなくなる Translation:
Devil Survivor: Overclocked	The Japanese goddess of light. She is a leading deity of Takamagahara, the land of the Amatsu gods. She is said to have been born of Izanagi's left eye, and is enshrined in many places, such as Ise Grand Shrine. Her most well-known tale is when she grew so angry at her brother Susano-o-no-mikoto's violence and chaos that she withdrew into Amano-iwato, shrouding the world in darkness.
Devil Survivor 2	The Japanese goddess of light. She is a leading deity of Takamagahara, the land of the Amatsu gods. She is said to have been born of Izanagi's left eye, and is enshrined in many places, such as Ise Grand Shrine. Her most well-known tale is when she grew so angry at her brother Susano-o-no-mikoto's violence and chaos that she withdrew into Amano-iwato, shrouding the world in darkness.
Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker

Game Appearances

Shin Megami Tensei II

Amaterasu is in Sealed Iwato, where she will tell Aleph the story of how the Japanese gods were imprisoned. She explains that the Kunitsukami betrayed the Amatsukami, helping those who follow the Hebrew God and demons of Chaos trap and seal them away, only for the Kunitsukami to be imprisoned by them as well once the deed was done. Regretting their foolish rivalry, she vows to never make this mistake again, and Aleph frees her. She thanks him, stating his power rivals that of Susano-o, and leaves.

Upon exiting the Sealed Cave, she meets with Hiruko, who she reconciles with, and then praises both his and Aleph's efforts for freeing the Amatsukami, taking Hiruko with her to the Diamond Realm to heal their wounded bodies afterward.

If Aleph freed her, Amatsu and Kunitsu demons will appear as encounters in the Old Imperial Palace and Diamond Realm, and in the latter location, Amaterasu herself can be found as an NPC, where she will offer her services through fusion as thanks for saving her. If Aleph attempts to speak to her with an Amaterasu already in his party, she will tell him that En no Ozuno has imprisoned a great monster inside the Diamond Realm.

Visionaries

Amaterasu is featured in one Visionary cutscene in the Game Boy Advance and iOS versions of the game.

In "Yasakani no Magatama", she is in the Yamato shrine when she is alerted to the threat of the Kunitsukami invading with the aid of foreign demons. Before she can heed any advice from her attendants to escape, she is confronted by a Metatron, who informs her that her fellow Amatsukami have been sealed away, and that she is the last one left. He notes that their easy victory over them is due to the guidance of the Kunitsukami, and in particular mentions Hiruko's familiarity with the Yamato shrine, prompting Amaterasu to sadly repeat his name before the angel seals her away.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

This section contains spoilers. (Skip Section)

Amaterasu is notably absent from Bethel Japan. In the subquest "Heroes of Heaven and Earth" it is revealed that she was forced out of existence when her Knowledge ascended into a unique being, with the gods of Japan being unable to restore her. It is heavily implied that Tao Isonokami is Amaterasu's Knowledge, and her being selected to become a Goddess of Creation overruled Amaterasu's existence. As a result of her absence, her brother Tsukuyomi was left in charge of the Japanese branch under the guise of Hayao Koshimizu.

End of spoilers.

Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Revelation

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Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner

Megami Amaterasu is one of the three deities that Rei Reiho can call upon near the beginning of the game.

Trivia

• Amaterasu's occasional weakness to Electric attacks may be a reference to a tale from the Kojiki, in which she has a feud with her brother Susano-o, who is the god of storms.
• In Shin Megami Tensei (Super CD-ROM²), unlike other members of the Gaean race, Amaterasu costs Magnetite while summoned when the player is dungeon crawling.
• Amaterasu's stats, along with its counterparts Missionary and Crusader, mirror those of Shin Megami Tensei's Fiends. Amaterasu matches Pale Rider, Missionary matches David, and Crusader matches Daisoujou.
• In Aeon Genesis's English translation patch for Shin Megami Tensei II, Amaterasu says that it was only the forces of Law that manipulated the Kunitsukami into betraying the Amatsukami, which is not accurate to the original script; both the forces of Law and Chaos are blamed for leading the Kunitsukami astray.

Nomenclature

天照 Amaterasu is a compound of 天 ama ("heaven") and the verb 照らす terasu ("to shine upon").

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name	Meaning
English	Amaterasu
Japanese	アマテラス Amaterasu
	あまてらすShin Megami Tensei (Super CD-ROM²) Amaterasu
Traditional Chinese	天照大神Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster Tiānzhào Dàshén	Amaterasu Ōkami; orthographic borrowing from Japanese
	天照Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2 Tiānzhào	Amaterasu; orthographic borrowing from Japanese
French	Amaterasu
German	Amaterasu
Italian	Amaterasu
Korean	아마테라스 Amateraseu
Peninsular Spanish	Amaterasu

Gallery

See Gallery