The Story of Owatatsumi - Episode 2: The Twin Jewel Princess Gods
This is a completely original KAMIYO special episode that fills the “void” left unrecorded in the history books of Japanese mythology.
We weave the hidden, true tale of the gods here.
Welcome to the abyssal world of Japanese mythology.
Prologue: Submission of the Ocean's Apex Predators, the Wani
Guided by Shiotsuchi-no-Kami, they arrived at a massive ocean trench—a source of life where warm and cold currents intersected, and rich thermal waters gushed from underwater volcanoes.
However, this sacred ground already had occupants.
Rumble...
Along with a low roar that shook the ocean floor, countless massive shadows slowly emerged from the darkness.
Sharp fangs, scales as hard as steel, and robust tail fins that tore through the water.
They were the "Wani"—a shiver of ferocious, giant sharks that had swaggered and ruled this sea since ancient times.
The Wani surrounded Owatatsumi-no-Kami, who had encroached upon their territory, swimming in circles to intimidate him. Their bloodlust was so terrifying that an ordinary god would have cowered in fear.
While Shiotsuchi-no-Kami took a step back and braced himself, Owatatsumi-no-Kami did not change his expression, simply glaring quietly at the leader of the Wani.
"Ancient beasts of the sea. The era of ruling by force has ended."
When Owatatsumi-no-Kami raised his right hand high, an overwhelming aura of intimidation radiated from his palm, shaking the entire deep sea.
It was not violence. It was the "absolute majesty of a king" who governs heaven and earth, inherited from Izanagi and Izanami.
Struck by that sacred vibration, the Wani lost their will to fight.
One after another, they rubbed their bodies against the sand of the ocean floor and bowed their fins, showing their submission to Owatatsumi-no-Kami.
"You have done well to sheathe your fangs. From this moment on, you shall wield those sharp fangs and swift fins as the guards of my palace, and as my loyal messengers."
It was the moment the most terrifying beasts of the sea became the absolute familiars (kenzoku) of Owatatsumi-no-Kami.
The Wani twisted their bodies in joy and danced through the sea to celebrate the birth of their new king.
Chapter 1: The Foundation of Watatsumi-no-Miya
"Now then, let us make this beautiful land our eternal paradise."
Owatatsumi-no-Kami spread his arms and offered a deep prayer.
Then, the bedrock of the ocean floor rumbled and began to change its shape.
It was not the piling of stones like the carpentry of humans. Responding to the will of the god, the natural world itself transformed its own appearance.
Massive trees of coral sprouted all at once from the ocean floor, intertwining to form the magnificent pillars of a temple.
The roof was paved with giant seashells shining in lapis lazuli, and the walls of the palace were inlaid with countless pearls that illuminated the darkness as bright as midday.
Furthermore, all manner of marine life dwelling in the sea—fish, turtles, and shellfish—gathered of their own accord to adorn the king's palace, settling in as the keepers of the beautiful gardens and becoming part of the vibrantly colored murals.
"Magnificent... In all the history of heaven and earth, there is no palace as beautiful as this."
Shiotsuchi-no-Kami let out a voice of admiration looking up at the nearing completion of the palace.
"I shall name it, 'Watatsumi-no-Miya' (The Palace of the Sea God)."
Owatatsumi-no-Kami sat upon the throne illuminated by the light of pearls.
There, illness, old age, and conflict did not exist. It was an eternally peaceful and rich underwater paradise where only the sound of the waves echoed gently.
Chapter 2: The Lord of Paradise and the Premonition of the Chain of Life
From his throne, Owatatsumi-no-Kami looked out over his vast territory.
Around the palace, the robust Wani stood guard, and vibrantly colored fish swam joyfully in schools.
The ocean currents circulated correctly through the world, bringing rich blessings to Oyashimakuni through the water gates governed by Hayaakitsuhiko-no-Kami and Hayaakitsuhime-no-Kami.
However, the eyes of Owatatsumi-no-Kami were looking toward a further future.
"This palace is complete. But true 'wealth' lies in life connecting and being passed down."
He had a premonition of the beautiful two daughters who would soon be born to him.
His eldest daughter, Toyotama-bime-no-Mikoto.
His second daughter, Tamayori-bime-no-Mikoto.
When they add elegant grace to this palace and smile accompanied by countless handmaidens, Watatsumi-no-Miya will welcome its true completion.
"I shall wait. For the time when the winds of the surface blow into this underwater paradise, and new destinies intersect."
Chapter 3: The Cradle of Lapis Lazuli and the Birth of the Twin Jewels
Watatsumi-no-Miya, built upon the massive bedrock of the ocean floor.
Within that magnificent temple adorned with coral pillars and pearl walls, at a certain time, two sacred lights lit up, dazzlingly illuminating the deep sea.
It was the birth of the children sharing his own flesh and blood, whom Owatatsumi-no-Kami had eagerly awaited.
Two beautiful goddesses, appearing as if the purity of the endless ocean and all the mysteries sleeping at the bottom of the sea had crystallized into form.
The eldest daughter, Toyotama-bime.
The second daughter, Tamayori-bime.
"Oh... my beautiful daughters."
Rising from his throne shining in lapis lazuli, Owatatsumi-no-Kami drew the two infant princess gods into his large arms.
The majestic aura of the supreme ruler governing all the seas faded away, leaving only the face of a father trembling with emotion at the birth of his beloved daughters.
The sound of the waves gently enveloped them, and every life dwelling in the sea danced beautifully around the temple to bless the birth of the new princesses of the sea.
It was the moment vibrantly colored "flowers" bloomed in full glory within the cold, silent world of the deep sea.
Chapter 4: The Pearl Smile, Toyotama-bime
Eternal time flowed, and the two princess gods grew into breathtakingly beautiful maidens.
The beauty of the eldest daughter, Toyotama-bime, in particular, emitted an exceptionally dazzling pearl-like radiance within the vast, dark sea.
"Father. I have already pacified the disturbance in the eastern ocean currents.
The fish of the deep sea are also forming their schools healthily."
Toyotama-bime respectfully reported to her father on the throne, making her translucent, silvery-white robes flutter.
Her long, glossy black hair swayed elegantly as if melting into the tide's flow, and in her eyes dwelt a wisdom deeper than the ocean floor, inherited from her father.
She was not merely a beautiful, sheltered daughter.
As the right hand of Owatatsumi-no-Kami, she managed the governance of the vast palace and played a central role in maintaining the order of the sea.
When she stepped forward, the flowers of the ocean floor opened their buds all at once, and when she smiled, the raging currents turned into calm waters.
Toyotama-bime was truly the "Light" itself within Watatsumi-no-Miya.
Chapter 5: The Ripples of Compassion, Tamayori-bime
Beside that beautiful older sister was always the figure of the second daughter, Tamayori-bime, wearing a smile like a quiet water's surface.
If the older sister was the radiance of the sun illuminating the wave crests, the younger sister was the moonlight gently enveloping everything.
"Sister, your conduct was admirable again today. Come, this way. Please rest your body for a while."
Tamayori-bime consoled her busy sister and invited her to a soft mat woven from seaweed.
Rather than standing at the forefront to rule the sea herself, she found supreme joy in supporting her sister and father from the shadows and preserving the peace of the palace.
If there was an injured small fish, she would wrap it in the sleeve of her robe to heal it; if there was a lost sea turtle, she would gently stroke it and guide it back to its parents.
Her fathomless compassion and maternity were a vast vessel necessary to accomplish a tremendous feat: later, on the surface world after her sister's departure, raising the infant of divine blood (Ugayafukiaezu) into a fine man, and becoming the grandmother of the first king to rule Oyashimakuni (Emperor Jimmu).
The two princess gods loved each other deeply, as if complementing what the other lacked, bringing perfect harmony to Watatsumi-no-Miya.
Thus, under the absolute protection of Owatatsumi-no-Kami, harboring the sun that illuminates the sea, Toyotama-bime, and the moon that envelops all, Tamayori-bime—these unparalleled "Twin Jewels"—the underwater palace entered its most beautiful and richly prosperous season since the creation of heaven and earth.
However, this perfect underwater miniature garden, which seemed as though it would last for eternity, quietly and surely began to tick away the years and months toward the absolute pinnacle of its glory—.
