Amaterasu Cave Sun Goddess Rescue

In Japanese mythology, the sun goddess Amaterasu once shut herself in a cave after her stormy brother Susanoo’s violent and insulting behavior drove her to despair, plunging the world into darkness. The other gods gathered outside the cave and tried various ways to lure her out, but she kept the entrance sealed. Finally, the goddess Ame-no-Uzume performed a wild, bawdy dance on an overturned tub, baring her breasts and making the assembled gods roar with laughter. Curious about the noise, Amaterasu slid the cave door open to look out, and the gods pulled her fully into the light, restoring sunshine to heaven and earth.

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