KAMIYO Episode 25: The Birth of the Sea God, Owatatsumi

Prologue: The Silent and Beautiful Islands

The Oyashimakuni (Great Eight-Island Country), created by Izanagi and Izanami pouring in all their might, was embraced by the clear ocean and shone divinely under the morning sun.

High towering peaks, earth covered in green, and the blue sea dividing the islands.

Brought forth by the deeds of the Amenonuboko (Heavenly Jeweled Spear), it was undoubtedly the greatest masterpiece of the Kamiyo-nanayo (Seven Divine Generations), boasting unparalleled beauty.

However, that world was somewhat empty.

The waves merely approached and receded according to the laws of nature. The trees merely swayed in the wind, holding no conversation.

Beautiful, yet far too silent.

There was no singing of birds, no roaring of beasts; the natural world itself lacked the heat called "Will."

Standing on the cliffs of Onogoro Island and looking down at the beautiful homeland stretching as far as the eye could see, the two gods felt an undeniable "thirst" amidst their satisfaction.

"The beautiful homeland is complete. Our love has splendidly taken form."

Izanagi spoke quietly, his robes fluttering in the wind.

"But... something is missing. The vessel is prepared, but the inside is hollow."

Izanami also nodded deeply and gazed at the islands sinking in silence.

A state awaiting the breath of life. The absence of the noble souls that should dwell within the vessel of the homeland.

The two gods realized that the great deed they were meant to accomplish was still only halfway done.

Chapter 1: The Resolve for the Birth of the Gods (Kamiumi)

The two gods returned before the Ame-no-Mihashira (Heavenly Pillar) towering at the center of the island.

This was the sacred epicenter where the two had exchanged eternal vows and truly become one like birds sharing wings.

"Lord Izanagi."

Izanami enveloped her beloved husband's large hands with her own.

In her eyes dwelt a deep, warm, and fathomless maternal radiance, different from the bravery of wielding the spear thus far.

"The deed of stirring the outer sea is now over. This time, let us give birth to the gods from our own love."

Until now, it had been the deed of giving form to the "outer matter" called chaos.

But from here onward, they had to challenge a higher-dimensional, flesh-carving divine feat: dividing their own souls and flesh, and birthing "life" directly from their inner vitality.

Izanagi painfully felt the sacred resolve imbued in his wife's words.

He stared powerfully back into his beloved wife's face and declared deeply and gravely.

"Yes, exactly. A mere lump of earth holds no meaning. With your endless maternity and my paternity, let us bestow countless gods upon this world."

From the Birth of the Land to the Birth of the Gods.

Now, the time had come for the love of the two gods itself to become the source that would breathe life into the earth and bring forth new gods to govern all creation.

Chapter 2: The Inner Union of Heaven and Earth

Deep inside the Yahiro-dono (Eight-Fathom Palace), the two gods united their hearts once more.

It was not the manifestation of wild power that shook heaven and earth, as when they created the homeland.

It was an ultimate communion, boundlessly quiet and deep, seeping into the very depths of each other's souls.

The robust, Yang spirit possessed by Izanagi, and the Yin spirit filled with compassion possessed by Izanami.

The two spirits converged into her soft womb.

Izanami's body began to emit a pale, divine light. Her womb was now a microcosm, about to conceive the very principles of the natural world.

"Oh..."

Izanagi gasped at the tremendous fetal movement of life pulsating from his wife's body.

The power to birth mountains, the power to blow winds, the power to rule the seas.

A pure "Might of Nature," on a completely different dimension from a human infant, was about to incarnate by borrowing Izanami's flesh. How much burden and pain must that force upon her, the mother?

Yet, there was no agony in Izanami's expression.

There was only an immeasurable affection for her soon-to-be-born child and an awe for her sacred mission.

She was sublimating her form from a Creator God into a perfect "Mother."

Chapter 3: The First Cry of the Ocean Roar The time was fulfilled

The air enveloping the Yahiro-dono suddenly grew damp, and a rich scent of the tide filled the space.

The vast ocean stretching in the distance, anticipating the birth of its master, began to ripple as if trembling with joy.

"He is being born... our first child!"

The moment Izanami looked up to the heavens and raised a voice of joy.

Within the palace, a dense, transparent lapis lazuli light, like the deep sea, burst open.

The first cry was not a crying sound like a human child.

Crash... Roar...

It was the sound of approaching and receding waves, the very echo of ocean currents flowing through the deep sea.

What emerged from the light was a god of breathtaking beauty and divine majesty.

Clad in robes of a deep blue like the sea, a beautiful crown shaped from white waves and pearls shone upon his forehead.

His limbs were strong, and his eyes harbored a wisdom deeper than an ocean trench.

"Oh... what a fierce and beautiful god."

Izanagi praised with a voice trembling with emotion.

It was the birth of the first nature god to rule the vast seas, Owatatsumi-no-Kami.

Chapter 4: A Prayer to Owatatsumi-no-Kami

Izanami raised her exhausted body and lovingly drew the newborn Owatatsumi-no-Kami to her chest.

Even a god possessing the mighty power to rule all the seas was, in his mother's arms, merely an adorable child narrowing his eyes in peace.

Izanami wore a gentle smile as a mother and softly stroked his crown of white waves.

"My beloved child, Owatatsumi-no-Kami. Please govern the beautiful, vast ocean, and gently embrace and protect the islands we have created."

Owatatsumi-no-Kami nodded deeply at his mother's words and stood up.

When he stepped out of the Yahiro-dono and spread his arms toward the ocean stretching below, a miracle occurred.

The sea, which until then had been as silent as a mere puddle, suddenly began to pulsate like a living creature with a will.

The ebb and flow of the tide was born, and rich ocean currents began to circulate around the islands.

The sea spray sang songs of joy, and the presence of countless lives welled up from the deep sea.

It was the moment a sacred consciousness first dwelled within the silent ocean, transforming the sea into "Living Nature."

Chapter 5: Breath into All Creation

Looking down at the ocean that had begun the dynamic movement of life below, Izanagi and Izanami held hands and witnessed the miracle.

"Look, Izanami. The sea is laughing. Our child has breathed life into the ocean."

"Yes, my husband. It is so beautiful, and powerful..."

The joy of birthing a god.

It was a deep, soul-shaking emotion incomparable to the sense of accomplishment when they stirred the outer sea and created the islands.

A single life was vividly coloring a part of the world.

That spectacle poured further oil upon the "Flame of Creation" within the two gods.

If the sea had awakened, next they must awaken the mountains.

They must make the wind sing, the rivers run, and the trees bear green.

"Come, there is no time to rest, my beloved wife."

Izanagi's eyes burned with zeal for the next creation.

"Yes, my husband. As long as this body endures, let us birth the countless gods to fill this beautiful world."

The birth of Owatatsumi-no-Kami was merely the prologue to the endlessly continuing "Kamiumi" (Birth of the Gods).

Sea, river, mountain, tree, grass, fire.

A ritual of love and passion, granting will to every element of great nature and birthing the Yaoyorozu no Kami (Eight Million Gods).

Actors were successively birthed onto the sacred stage of the Japanese archipelago, and the myth became filled with an unprecedented brilliance and clamor.