Yamata-no-Orochi

Yamata-no-Orochi is the eight-headed, eight-tailed giant serpent recorded in the upper scroll of the Kojiki (712 CE). It dwelt at the upper Hi River (modern Hii River) in Izumo Province and consumed one daughter each year. After his banishment from Takamagahara, Susanoo-no-Mikoto descended to Izumo and met Ashinazuchi, Tenazuchi, and their daughter Kushinada-hime; he promised to slay the serpent. Susanoo had eight vats of strong yashio-ori sake prepared, made the serpent drink itself drunk, and cut it apart with his ten-grasp sword; from one tail came the Kusanagi sword. The Kojiki, upper scroll, Susanoo segment (712 CE), the Nihon Shoki, divine age book one, eighth section (720 CE), with multiple variant accounts (alternate names "Murakumo no Tsurugi" / "Kusanagi"), and the Izumo Fudoki (733 CE) on the Hi River basin form the textual basis. The Kusanagi sword later became one of the Three Sacred Treasures, enshrined at Atsuta Grand Shrine in Nagoya.