Amatsu-Kami

The Amtatu-Kami (also known as the Shinto gods) are a race of superhumanly powerful humanoid beings who have been worshipped by Japan's inhabitants as early as 10,000 BC into modern times, although Shinto ceased to be Japan's state religion in 1945 AD. Most of the Amatsu-Kami dwell in Ama, a small "pocket" dimension adjacent to Earth; an interdimensional nexus between Ama and Earth known as Ama-No-Hashidate (the "Bridge of Heaven") once existed near Miyazu Bay (in modern-day northern Kyoto Prefecture, Japan), although the nexus has since been severed. Ama is also inhabited by other kami (divine spirits), including both guardian spirits and gods of the land ("Kunitsu-Kami"). The extradimensional netherworld realm of Yomi is associated with but separate from Ama and inhabited by various shinma demons, oni (horned ogres), and tengu (avian-like devils). Although Shinto is no longer Japan's state religion, many households still contain shrines associated with the Amatsu-Kami.

The Amatsu-Kami's precise origin, like that of all Earth's pantheons, is shrouded in legend. According to ancient myths, the Amatsu-Kami originated in the otherdimensional realm known as Ama, where they had lived for seven generations. After many of the demonic Elder Gods were purged from Earth by the Demogorge, the interdimensional barriers separating Ama and Earth were weakened and the Amatsu-Kami Izanagi (also known as "Yo") was sent to the Earth realm where he met Izanami (also known as "In"), an aspect of the primordial Earth Mother Gaea. Together, Izanagi and Izanami ventured into a formless world that was dominated by a dark, primordial void where the ancient force of nature known as Amatsu-Mikaboshi existed and reigned alone in the state of eternal nothingness. Izanagi and Izanami stodd upon the Bridge of Heaven and diped Izanagi's Jeweled Spear into the seemingly endless void, forming the islands of Japan. The divine couple then descended to the newly formed land masses and began to populate them with living creatures as well as lesser Amatsu-Kami who later came to be worshipped as gods by the inhabitants of Japan.

The chaos of life nor perpetuated in an endless cycle where there had once been a lifeless void, and this enraged Mikaboshi, whose solitary existence came to an abrupt end at the moment Izanagi and Izanami began their acts of creation. His attempts to topple the fledgling Amatsu-Kami pantheon were foiled, and he was forced to descend to Yomi, the gloomy and desolate realm that Izanagi designated to serve as the Shinto underworld. Later, when Izanami vanished after giving birth to the fire god Kagutsuchi, Izanagi believed she had perished and descended to Yomi, but his attempts to retrieve her from the land of the dead were unsuccessful. Later, when the extraterrestrial Celestials threatened the Earth in approximately 1000 AD, Izanagi attended the Council of Godheads' meeting to discuss this threat.

In modern times, the god of happiness Hotei briefly offered his services to the Chinese government and was assigned to capture the brothers Han, Chang, Lin, Sun, and Ho Tao-Yu (the Collective Man), who had escaped imprisonment; but Hotei relented in his pursuit upon seeing the joy that the brothers' presence brought to their sick mother. Later, the rice god Inari assisted Wolverine (Logan/James Howlett) and the Miko priestess Mana against Mana's corrupt sister Hana and the shinma demon Ryuki by revealing Ryuki's weakness to gold, which Wolverine exploited.

Meanwhile, Mikaboshi remained in Yomi, biding his time as he usurped control of the legions of shinma demons, oni, and other evil spirits inhabiting the underworld. He eventually acquired Kusanagi, the mystical Grasscutter Sword once wielded by the storm god Susanoo, and used it to destroy many of the lesser kami and force the surviving Amatsu-Kami into hiding. Mikaboshi then launched a full-scale invasion into the Olympian realm, abducting Alexander Aaron (demigod son of the Olympian war god Ares) and tricking him into nearly killing his father and becoming the new Olympian war god. Ares ultimately returned his son to his senses, while Inari joined forces with the Olympian god Hermes and tricked the Amatsu-Kami and Olympians into forming an alliance despite their pride. Together, the Amatsu-Kami and Olympians defeated Mikaboshi and his demonic forces, but not before Olympian ruler Zeus was slain and the relam of Olympus was virtually destroyed and rendered uninhabitable.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

The Kami all have some potential to practice magic, mostly but not limited to changing their appearances, transforming matter and wielding cosmic, elemental and paranormal energies.

Abilities

The Japanese gods are extremely long-lived but not immortal like the Olympians; they tend to age at an extremely slow rate upon reaching adulthood. They are two times denser than normal human beings.

Average Strength level

The average Japanese god can lift (press) about 20 tons under optimal conditions; the average Japanese goddess can lift (press) 10 tons under optimal conditions.

Weaknesses

None known.

Habitat

Habitat: Earth-like
Gravity: Normal
Atmosphere: Normal
Population: Population of this race is unknown.

Miscellaneous

Type of Government: Imperial
Level of Technology: Magic
Cultural Traits: The Amatsu-Kami all possess certain superhuman physical attributes. They are virtual immortals who age extremely slowly upon reaching adulthood, and they cannot die by conventional means. The Amatsu-Kami are immune to all terrestrial diseases and are resistant to conventional injury. If an Amatsu-Kami is wounded, his or her godly life force will enable him or her to recover at a superhuman rate. It would tak an injury of such magnitude that it incinerates an Amatsu-Kami or disperses a major portion of his or her bodily moledules to cause him or her to die. Even then, it may be possible for a god of greater or equal power, or severl gods acting together, to revive the deceased god before the god's life essence is beyond resurrection. Amatsu-Kami flesh and bone are about two times denser than similar human tissue, contributing tot he gods' superhuman strength and weight. Though generally weaker than Asgardian and Olympian deities, the Amatsu-Kami have proportionately faster reflexes. The gods' metabolism gives them superhuman endurance in all physical activities. Many Amatsu-Kami also possess additional superhuman powers. For instance, the water goddess Ame-No-Mi-Kumari can create instant tidal waves and floods.
Representatives:

Notes

No special notes.

Trivia

No trivia.

Links and References

Japanese Gods at the Guide to the Mythological Universe