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Futsunushi and Takemikazuchi: The Sword Deities of Katori and Kashima Who Pacified Japan
Futsunushi-no-Mikoto and Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto are two sword deities who pacified the earthly realm of Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni on behalf of Amaterasu. Enshrined at Katori Jingu in Chiba and Kashima Jingu in Ibaraki, they were revered by warriors as the divine source of martial arts. This guide traces the full story from the "Transfer of the Land" myth to modern martial traditions.
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Author
Hijiri
| Shrines & Temples
Contents
MOKUJI
一
What Are Futsunushi and Takemikazuchi? The Essence of Two Sword Deities
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二
Frequently Asked Questions
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What Are Futsunushi and Takemikazuchi? The Essence of Two Sword Deities
“Futsunushi-no-Mikoto” is a deity who embodies the spiritual power of the sword — the divine personification of a blade’s cleaving force. “Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto” combines the power of lightning with the spirit of the sword. “Take” conveys martial valor; “mikazuchi” derives from the word for thunder. Together, these two deities represent the full spectrum of divine martial power.
Both deities play the central roles in the pacification of Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni, the earthly realm — which lies at the spiritual foundation of Katori Jingu and Kashima Jingu.
Katori Jingu worship hall (Katori City, Chiba) — the ancient shrine enshrining Futsunushi-no-Okami, venerated by eastern warriors as a patron of martial arts
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
The Myth of Pacification: How the Sword Deities Shaped Japan
The narrative of the “Transfer of the Land” (Kunitsukami no Kokuzuri) is among the most dramatic in Japanese mythology. Amaterasu-Omikami decreed that Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni should be governed by her divine descendant, and dispatched messengers to demand the earthly deities relinquish their rule. Futsunushi and Takemikazuchi were ultimately chosen.
Arriving at Izumo, Takemikazuchi drove his sword point-down into the crests of the waves and seated himself upon the hilt. The divine sword — the Futsunomitama sword — became the sacred blade at the heart of the sword deity tradition. With Okuninushi’s submission, the pacification was complete.
Kashima Jingu Romon gate (Kashima City, Ibaraki) — the oldest shrine in the Kanto region, enshrining Takemikazuchi-no-Okami and the sacred origin of Kashima sword traditions
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
A Comparison: Katori Jingu and Kashima Jingu
Feature
Katori Jingu
Kashima Jingu
Location
Katori City, Chiba
Kashima City, Ibaraki
Principal Deity
Futsunushi-no-Okami
Takemikazuchi-no-Okami
Traditional Founding
18th year of Emperor Jinmu
1st year of Emperor Jinmu
Ritual Status
Ancient shrine / Former Imperial Grand Shrine
Ancient shrine / Former Imperial Grand Shrine
Martial Arts Connection
Source of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu
Source of Kashima Shinto-ryu
Kashima Jingu inner shrine (okumiya), nestled deep within a grove of ancient cedars where the primeval silence of the Age of the Gods lingers
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Katori Jingu in Chiba Prefecture has direct connections to the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu — Japan’s oldest documented school of martial arts, founded by Iizasa Choisai (c. 1387–1488) following a thousand-day retreat at the shrine. Kashima Jingu is the spiritual home of the Kashima sword tradition, established by the legendary swordsman Tsukahara Bokusen (1489–1571).
The Martial Arts Heritage
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu (Kamakura, Kanagawa) — the great guardian shrine of the samurai capital, developed by Minamoto no Yoritomo alongside the sword deity traditions of Katori and Kashima
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
The martial traditions of Katori and Kashima share a common spiritual foundation: the practice of pledging to the deity before battle and returning the outcome to the deity afterward. This spirit continues at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura and at Sumiyoshi Taisha.
Pilgrimage to Both Shrines
Usa Jingu worship hall (Usa City, Oita) — the head shrine of Hachiman, revered as a war deity who protected Empress Jingu alongside the sword gods of Katori and Kashima
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Both Katori Jingu and Kashima Jingu can be visited in a single day from Tokyo. The historical pilgrimage route ran from Kashima westward across the Tone River to Katori. Related sites include Usa Jingu in Oita and Hachiman-Yawata in Kyoto, both sharing the warrior faith tradition. Meiji Jingu hosts martial arts dedications each spring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Futsunushi or Takemikazuchi the more senior deity?
No clear hierarchical ranking exists. Katori Jingu and Kashima Jingu hold equal ritual status as former Imperial Grand Shrines. The appropriate understanding is of two complementary sword deities who together completed the pacification of Japan.
Can both shrines be visited on the same day?
Yes. Using rail and bus connections from Tokyo, both Kashima Jingu and Katori Jingu can be visited in a single day.
Can I still study Katori Shinto-ryu or Kashima Shinto-ryu today?
Both schools survive in active transmission today, in Japan and internationally. Both require a serious commitment to Shinto spiritual discipline alongside physical training.
Why is the “Kaname-ishi” (keystone) significant?
According to tradition, a giant catfish sleeping beneath the earth causes earthquakes. Both Kashima Jingu and Katori Jingu possess a Kaname-ishi that pins the catfish down. The two stones are said to connect underground, symbolizing the earth-stabilizing power of the two sword deities.
Last updated: May 25, 2026
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Author
Hijiri（ひじり）
Shrines & Temples
Toku editorial team — shrines and temples. Former designer who reads temple architecture and gardens through an aesthetic lens, quietly tracing the lineages of sects and doctrines.
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Visit Related Places
History truly comes alive when you visit in person. Choose your next destination from the related sites and pilgrimage courses below.
1. Katori Jingu Shrine
The first shrine of Shimosa heading about 400 Katori shrines nationwide, whose Genroku black-lacquered main hall and National Treasure bronze mirror convey its martial prestige
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2. Kashima Jingu
The foremost martial deity shrine of eastern Japan — Kashima Jingu, ichinomiya of Hitachi Province, enshrining Takemikazuchi since 660 BCE
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3. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
Kamakura's guardian shrine since Yoritomo's 1180 relocation — site of Sanetomo's assassination by the great ginkgo
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4. Sumiyoshi Taisha
Head shrine of about 2,300 Sumiyoshi shrines — Settsu Province's ichinomiya, with four National Treasure main halls in Sumiyoshi-zukuri style and 2 million New Year worshippers
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5. Meiji Jingu
70-hectare sacred forest in central Tokyo — Japan's busiest New Year shrine
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