"Japanese myths are a rich and complex collection of creation lore, supernatural tales, and legendary stories. Like Greek, Egyptian, and Norse myths, Japanese myths are full of human-like deities who love, murder, and betray each other. The human descendants of the Japanese gods are counted as some of Japans greatest heroes. Their stories are filled with supernatural feats and tragic outcomes. Japanese myths also stretch across multiple worlds. The most important of these are the High Heavenly Plain, which is the abode of the heavenly gods, Yomi, known as the land of the dead, the Central Reed Plain Land, filled with earthly deities, and Tokoyo, a mysterious land of immortals. Japanese myths have been studied for the past thousand years, and perhaps unlike Greek or Norse myth, were closely tied to the belief systems and ritual practices of everyday people until very recently. As late as 1945, the official line on Japanese myths was that they were true, especially concerning the divine status of the Japanese emperor.

Even though the emperor renounced his divinity after defeat in World War II, Japanese myths are still a part of everyday life in Japan through their imaginative and fanciful adaptations. Japanese people also continue to visit shrines to the Japanese gods, especially on occasions like New Years Day. This book is a straightforward introductory guide to these deities, heroes, and worlds as they appear in the oldest recorded sources. This book also provides a basic introduction to the study of Japanese myths in Japan and around the world"-- Provided by publisher.