The God Oyamatsumi had two daughters: Konohanasakuya-hime whose name refers to blossoms, and the disfigured-looking Iwanaga-hime whose name refers to having rock solid longevity. Ninigi-no-Mikoto, great-grandfather of Japan's first Emperor Jimmu, asked for Konohanasakuya's hand in marriage. Oyamatsumi allowed him to marry both Konohanasakuya and Iwanaga, but Ninigi rejected Iwanaga because of her looks. This was Oyamatsumi's test to Ninigi: If he had taken Iwanaga as his wife as well, then Ninigi's descendants—the Imperial line of Japan—would have long and enduring lifespans comparable to that of a rock. But because he picked only Konohanasakuya, Ninigi fated the Imperial line to having short, transient, fleeting lives that come and go like a cherry blossom.[1] Konohanasakuya is also associated with safe childbirth. Ninigi suspected that their children were not his based on how quickly she became pregnant, and he lit the maternity hut on fire to test if they were truly his or not. Following this association of safe childbirth through fire, she also became a deity associated with protecting people from the fires of Mt. Fuji and she is now enshrined in the area.[2][3]
Design
When designing Konohana Sakuya, Shigenori Soejima wanted to make her accompany the protagonist's Izanagi. Izanagi looks manly: He has a boys' school uniform, a knife, and he gives off the vibes of an Ōendan leader. Accordingly, Konohana Sakuya was designed to be feminine: She looks like a pom girl, she has cherry blossoms, and her color is pink.[4]
In Golden, Yukiko starts with Konohana Sakuya. It transfigures into Amaterasu upon maxing her Social Link, and can further transfigure into Sumeo-Okami during winter.
Persona 4: Dancing All Night: During Yukiko's victory animation, Konohana Sakuya appears and has a saxophone solo. The saxophone is also the instrument Yukiko learned how to play for the Junes concert in Persona 4 Golden.
↑"Characters: Yukiko Amagi", Persona 4 Official Design Works, Atlus, Famitsu Editorial Department. Published by Famitsu (2008). Japanese. p. 57. ISBN-13: 978-4757745087.
Japanese
