Ame-no-Ohabari-no-Kami

Ame-no-Ohabari-no-Kami is a personified sword-deity recorded in Kojiki (712 CE), identical in substance with Itsu-no-Ohabari recorded in the earlier kami-umi section, but emphasized in this designation as the deity dwelling at the upper reaches of the Heavenly River who is invoked in the kuni-yuzuri (transfer of the land) episode. In the upper volume, kuni-yuzuri section, Amaterasu Omikami declares that 'we must dispatch Itsu-no-Ohabari-no-Kami who dwells in the Heavenly Rock-Cave at the upper reaches of the Heavenly River,' and sends Ame-no-Kaku-no-Kami as messenger to inquire. Ohabari replies with reverence and recommends his son Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto as the envoy for the descent. Ohabari has no consort but originates from the ten-grasp sword with which Izanagi struck down Kagutsuchi. His son Takemikazuchi stands at the end of three lightning deities (Mikahayahi, Hihayahi, Takemikazuchi) born from the blood of the sword. As an upstream sword-deity in the lineage of weapon worship, he is venerated through traditions associated with the Futsu-no-Mitama sword at Isonokami Jingu in Tenri, Nara, and with Kashima Jingu in Ibaraki and Katori Jingu in Chiba.