An illustration showing the mythological realms from the Kojiki: Takama-ga-hara in the heavens, the Earthly Realm, Ne-no-Katasu-kuni underground, and Yomi-no-Kuni, the Land of the Dead, connected by Yomi-no-Hirasaka.

The World of Japanese Mythology

In Japanese mythology, the world is divided into three main realms.

Takama-ga-hara – The Heavenly Realm High above the sky lies Takama-ga-hara, home of the heavenly deities such as Amaterasu, who will appear later in the story.

Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni – The Earthly Realm This is the world of land and people — the place we live in.

The Realms Beneath the EarthThere are two mysterious worlds underground:
• Yomi-no-Kuni, the Land of the Dead, where Izanami dwells.
• Ne-no-Katasu-kuni, a faraway otherworld beyond the sea, where Susanoo will later reside.

And between the living world and the underworld lies Yomotsu-Hirasaka, the slope that connects them.

Tokura

There are also other realms, like the Sea Kingdom and the Land Beyond the Ocean. I’ll write more about those once all the characters have appeared in the story!