Amaterasu
天照あまてらす
From Japanese 天 (ama), "heaven, sky", and 照 (terasu), "to shine": the one whose light covers the sky.
Meaning and origin
Amaterasu belongs to Shinto scripture rather than to everyday Japanese vocabulary: she is the sun goddess at the centre of the creation account set down in the eighth-century chronicles Kojiki and Nihon Shoki.
How to pronounce Amaterasu
| Japanese | ah-mah-teh-RAH-soo /amateɾasɯ/ |
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About this entry
Drafted with the help of an AI model, then checked by a person. Last checked on 16 September 2026.
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