In Japanese mythology, Izanami is the wife of the creator god, Izanagi.
Divine Izanami, or Izana-mi, "female who invites," also Izanami-no-kami, is a Japanese creator deity, sister and consort of the male creator Izanagi (also Izana-gi, "male who invites"). In Japanese Shinto mythology, Izanami was created from chaos by the celestial deities, and with Izanagi, was responsible for the creation of the eight Japanese islands and their corresponding deities. Izanami's last creation was Kagu-tsuchi, the god of fire, who during his birth severely burned Izanami, leading her to spawn several additional gods from the expulsions caused by her death throes; afterward she journeyed to Yomi, the land of darkness. Grief-stricken, Izanagi is said to have beheaded the child, birthing several new gods from the drops of blood that fell from his sword. Izanagi then journeyed to Yomi (hell) to plead for Izanami's return, but Izanami had eaten food in the underworld realm, and when Izanami lit a fire, discovered her decaying, filled with worms. In anger, Izanagi blocked the entrance to Yomi, trapping Izanami within. Enraged at her husband, Izanami caused one thousand people to die per day; Izanagi retaliated by birthing fifteen hundred people per day.
