Susano-oh No Mikoto is a younger God in the Shinto Pantheon, a set of beliefs native to Japan. Susano-oh is the god of storms and of the sea; known as a brave, swift and sometimes rash man and had a highly volatile temper before he came to Earth. Susano-oh sprang forth from his father Izanami (one of the twin deities that created the pantheon) as he was preparing to go into the Underworld and reclaim counterpart and wife, Izanagi. As soon as he was born, Susano-oh began weeping and howling for his mother. His wails were too much for everyone in the heavens to bear and he was sentenced to be sent down to the netherworld.

Before he left, however, he wished to bid his sister, Amaterasu (the sun goddess) farewell. At his approach however, the ground shook and he made so much noise that his sister became fearful him and closed the gates to her palace. Susano-oh became enraged and at one point threw a flayed colt into one of her temples, at which point she became terrified, hiding in a cave, and thus leaving the world without the sun for a time. Eventually, the Gods gathered and banished Susano-oh to walk the Earth and live as a mortal as punishment.

When he arrived on Earth, Susano-oh heard the sound of weeping, and proceeded to the river Hi in the province of Izumo where he found an old man and woman along with a pretty young maiden. He asked them why they wept so, and they told him of a terrible dragon that came every year and had eaten one of their daughters on each occasion. The time of his return was near, and they wept for their remaining daughter who would be devoured.

The eight headed dragon Yamata no Orochi came and did battle with Susano-oh. Eventually, Susano-oh was able to defeat all of Orochi's heads, and in it's tail he found a sword called Ama No Murakumo Tsurugi (Sword of Billowing Clouds), which later was known as the Kusanagi no Tsurugi (the Grass Cutter). This sword is now one of the Imperial treasures and is said to have been presented to the first Emperor of Japan by the Amaterasu, herself.