9 Izanaki Escapes from the land of Yomi

”Kami” is a Japanese word referring to gods, spirits, and sacred presences in Japanese belief. The unit used to count Kami is “Hashira.”

Izanaki was horrified when he saw his wife Izanami—her body decayed, with no trace of her former appearance remaining. In a panic, he turned and ran.

Angered that Izanaki had broken his promise not to look, Izanami sent the Yomotsu-shikome, the hags of the underworld, to chase after him.

As the Yomotsu-shikome closed in, Izanaki threw down the kuro-mikazura, a vine he had been wearing in his hair. At once, wild grapes sprang forth. While the Yomotsu-shikome greedily devoured the grapes, Izanaki escaped.

Soon they caught up with him again. This time, Izanaki broke the sacred comb he had tucked into his hair and cast its teeth to the ground. From them, bamboo shoots grew. As the Yomotsu-shikome pulled up the shoots and ate them, Izanaki fled even farther.

When I work on a manga, I spend a lot of time not only thinking about the episodes and the deities that appear, but also about the smaller items shown in each scene.

I could simply follow the reference materials and draw everything as it is, but I often find myself stopping and thinking, “Wait… what is this, exactly?”

This time, especially, there were many moments like that.

I looked into what each item might represent, but in many cases there was no clear answer. So as I drew, I kept various theories and possibilities in the back of my mind, imagining what they could mean.

🟩 Kuro-mikazura (Black Vine)

It is known that kuro-mikazura refers to a type of vine plant, but it is not clearly described how Izanaki actually used it.
Was it woven and worn like a crown? Was it used to tie his hair? Or perhaps wrapped around his head?

In my manga, I chose to depict it as a primitive, natural hair tie—something made from raw materials, predating the use of ornamental hairpins.
Kuro-mikazura may have been more than just a plant. It could symbolize strong vitality, or perhaps represent a particular clan or group.

In the world of mythology, once you start thinking along these lines, there is no end to the possibilities.

🟩 The Comb

The comb must have been an important item. In the context of the Kojiki, it carries a strong and heavy presence.

It was likely more than a simple grooming tool—it may have been a semi-spiritual object, one that touched the body, the soul, and life itself.

If we view it as something that “sets things in order,” the comb may also have had the role of purifying impurity. It could symbolize the order of the living world, standing in opposition to death, decay, and the chaos of Yomi. In that sense, it can be seen as one of the most powerful items in the story.

Moreover, a comb is something worn constantly, never shared with others, and extremely personal—almost a part of oneself.

The fact that Izanaki broke it and cast it away shows how desperate the situation was: he had to flee, even at the cost of giving up something so deeply personal.

🟩 Wild Grapes

And yet, suddenly—almost like magic—grapes appear in the story.
When I first read the Kojiki, this moment really stuck with me.

“Grapes? All of a sudden? Isn’t that a bit too abrupt? And why grapes?”

I kept wondering about it for a long time.
Surprisingly, however, there seems to be very little discussion about this point, even among people who are deeply interested in the Kojiki. I couldn’t find much information at all.
Could the grapes represent a group that brought them into Japan?
Could they be a clue pointing to a specific region?

If anyone happens to know more about this, I would love to hear your thoughts.

🟩 Bamboo Shoots

As with the grapes, one question remains: why bamboo shoots?

Bamboo shoots are known for their rapid growth. As symbols of vitality, they stand in complete opposition to Yomi, the land of death. They grow all at once, spread through underground rhizomes, and appear in clusters. Even when cut, they grow again. They are difficult to kill.