Ame-no-Tajikarao stood hidden beside the rock door of Ama-no-Iwato and, when Amaterasu peered out at the gods' laughter, seized her hand and hauled the sun goddess bodily back into the world, then barred the cave so she could never retreat into darkness again.
Amaterasu withdrew into Ama-no-Iwato after Susanoo's transgressions, plunging the world into darkness until the assembled gods lured her out.
Ame-no-Hiwashi wove the sacred bark cloth used as ritual offerings before Ama-no-Iwato during the gods' efforts to lure Amaterasu from the cave (Nihon Shoki, Kogoshūi).
Ame-no-Mahitotsu forged the iron tools and bellows used to create the Yata no Kagami before Ama-no-Iwato, supporting Ishikoridome's mirror-making during the ritual to restore Amaterasu (Kogoshūi).
Ame-no-Uzume performed a raucous, ecstatic dance on an overturned tub outside Ama-no-Iwato, provoking laughter from the assembled gods that drew Amaterasu to peer from the cave (Kojiki).
When Amaterasu hid in Ama-no-Iwato, Ashihara no Nakatsukuni was plunged into total darkness alongside Takamagahara, and evil spirits ran rampant across the land (Kojiki).
Futodama stretched a shimenawa rope across the entrance of Ama-no-Iwato after Amaterasu emerged, sealing the cave so the sun goddess could never again hide within it and plunge the world into darkness.
The Yata no Kagami enshrined at Ise Jingū was the mirror used before Ama-no-Iwato to lure Amaterasu from hiding. The cave myth is the origin story of Ise's most sacred object.
The Ama-no-Iwato Shrine at Takachiho in Miyazaki Prefecture stands across a gorge from a cave identified as the Heavenly Rock Cave, making Takachiho the primary earthly site associated with the myth.
Ama-no-Iwato, the Heavenly Rock Cave, is located within Takamagahara. It is where Amaterasu hid after Susanoo's rampage, plunging both heaven and earth into darkness (Kojiki).
The Tokoyo no Naganakidori, long-crowing roosters from the eternal realm of Tokoyo, were gathered to crow before Ama-no-Iwato as part of the gods' ritual to herald a false dawn and lure Amaterasu from the cave (Kojiki).
The Yasakani no Magatama was hung on the sakaki tree before Ama-no-Iwato alongside the Yata no Kagami as part of the ritual offering to lure Amaterasu from hiding (Kojiki).
The Yata no Kagami was hung on a sakaki tree before Ama-no-Iwato and tilted toward the entrance so Amaterasu would see her own radiance reflected when she peered out (Kojiki).
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