Futodama-no-Mikoto

Futodama-no-Mikoto, also recorded as Futodama, is a heavenly deity in Kojiki (712 CE) and Nihon Shoki (720 CE). At the rock-cave seclusion of Amaterasu-Omikami he carried out divination with Ame-no-Koyane-no-Mikoto and made and offered up the curved jewels, the eight-span mirror and the offering-streamers. In Kojiki Upper Volume the text records, "He summoned Ame-no-Koyane-no-Mikoto and Futodama-no-Mikoto, drew out the shoulder of a true male deer of Mount Kagu, took the cherry bark of Mount Kagu and performed divination." When Amaterasu emerged he stretched the boundary rope to prevent her return. In the descent of the heavenly grandson he is among the five companions who descend with Ninigi-no-Mikoto. While his ancestors are not stated, Kogo Shui (807 CE, by Inbe no Hironari) sets out his line as ancestor of the Imbe clan. His descendant Ame-no-Tomi-no-Mikoto accompanies the eastern Jimmu campaign and becomes the ancestor of the Awa and Awa-Imbe groups. Together with the Nakatomi line, ancestors of the Fujiwara, the Imbe stood as twin priestly clans of the ancient court. Awa Jinja in Tateyama is his chief seat.