Welcome to Day 1 of A2Z 2026. Am looking forward to sharing what I have learned about Goddesses from All Times and Places. The letter illustrations by Cari Buziak have been colored by me and used in other A2Z’s. The goddess illustrations by Marty Noble have been colored by me and are used whenever a goddess in the book was available. When one wasn’t, I found other images. I also tried to use one photo or image when a goddess wasn’t available to color from Noble’s book. I’ve also included a question at the end of each post to get you in touch with your inner goddess.
I look forward to following many participating blogs this month, learning and having a good time.
Let the series begin!
Amaterasu (Japanese)
Amaterasu (Japanese)
Amaterasu Ōmikami, often called Amaterasu for short, also known as Amateru Kami and Ōhirume no Muchi, is the goddess of the sun in Japanese mythology. Often considered the chief deity (kami) of the Shinto pantheon, she is also portrayed in Japan’s earliest literary texts, the Kojiki (c. 712 CE) and the Nihon Shoki (720 CE), as the ruler (or one of the rulers) of the heavenly realm Takamagahara and as the mythical ancestress of the Imperial House of Japan via her grandson Ninigi. Along with two of her siblings (the moon deity Tsukuyomi and the impetuous storm-god Susanoo) she ranks as one of the “Three Precious Children,” the three most important offspring of the creator god Izanagi. Amaterasu’s chief place of worship, the Grand Shrine of Ise in Ise, Mie Prefecture, is one of Shinto’s holiest sites and a major pilgrimage center and tourist spot. As with other Shinto kami, she is also enshrined in a number of Shinto shrines throughout Japan.
Source: wikipedia
In Pop Culture
Amaterasu appears regularly in popular culture, including:
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In the popular video game series Ōkami, where she is banished to Earth and takes the form of a white wolf. This form of Amaterasu appears in multiple adaptations, most notably Marvel vs. Capcom 3;
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In the manga Naruto, where a powerful jutsu called Amaterasu burns its victims to nothingness;
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In the video game SMITE, where she appears as a playable character;
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In the Yu-Gi-Oh! Card game, where she appears as a powerful card;
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In the television series Stargate SG-1, where Amaterasu is a Lord of the Goa’uld System who seeks peace with humanity;
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In the novel Giles Goat-Boy, where the people of Japan are called the Amaterasu. In this story, the Amaterasu were eaten by WESCAC during the Second Campus Riot, an event that serves as a metaphor for World War II and the atomic bombings;
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In the famous manga Urusei Yatsura, where a satirical version of the cave tale is told. In this version, Amaterasu is locked in the cave after the lewd dance instead of being released.
from Mythopedia:
Question: If you were a goddess
where would you want your shrine to be?
Tao-Talk 
If I was a goddess, I’d prefer my shrine to be nowhere near where people could see. Because I would be one ugly woman.
This is cool! I like learning about new subjects. Everyone knows about Zeus, Thor, and Hermes.
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I know, the goddesses always look so beautiful, but I learned during the research that is more for what they do than what they look like.
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If I were a goddess I’d want my shrine to be in the mountains, probably in the indian ones!
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Sounds like a perfect place to have one. Able to look out upon the world and sitting where the weather begins.
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I know this might sound disingenuous but in the heart.
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:)
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I absolutely ADORE Cari Buziak’s art!! I love your idea for a series on goddesses. I’m looking forward to reading more about them.
If I was a goddess, I would want my shrine to be deep in the woods with lots of lush, dark green around.
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Awesome, A. Dover has several of her coloring books there, as you probably know. Nice place for a shrine!
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Interesting goddess! Fun she appears in so many ways (wolf) and in the video games. I love the coloring pages! A shrine? … Probably in a flower garden with lots of birds, too. :)
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Yes, she is and I like how she continues to live on. I found that with so many of them. I love the idea of such a shrine <3
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Beautiful. A great start to AtoZ 2026. Thanks for the history lesson.
Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. ♥
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Sandee, is that the thing I linked up to?
Thank you on the post :)
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No you linked up to my Wordless Wednesday Hop. It’s all good and your link will remain. If you want the AtoZ challenge you’re find it here: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2026/04/a-is-for-aspirations-atozchallenge-2026.html For the graphics: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2026-graphics.html
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OK thanks! Much appreciated.
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Love your theme and so inspired by it; a similar one around Indian mythology has been brewing in my head for years now but somehow never came to fruition… Regarding a shrine, seems lofty to think of one, but I would think anywhere among books :)
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Vidya, I just happened to see the coloring book on Goddesses and that decided me for a theme. I adore the idea of a shrine among books <3
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Love this theme! I look forward to learning a lot. My shrine would have to be by the sea. It draws me. :)
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Brenda happy you like the theme. I think mine would have to be by some body of water for sure. Water, the giver of life <3
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Quite a pop culture legacy!
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Yes it is! I was suprised at how many ancient goddesses are still actively worshipped today in some fashion.
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I like the way she’s been transformed by different cultural media. I remember my daughter playing Yu-Gi-Oh!.
I’d like a shrine in the Zen Garden at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. (K)
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I do also, K. There’s something to be said for a white wolf. The Zen Garden sounds just right <3
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Growing up so much was taught about Greek and Roman myths and gods and goddesses, it’s nice to read about the myriad of others. I’d have my temple on the coast, but not so high you couldn’t get to the beach below. Not a warm sunny beach, rocky and foggy.
Lisa
https://thisandthatablog.blogspot.com/
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Someone, I understand and tried to find non-Greek, non-Roman goddesses most of the time. The coloring book had quite a few of them (Greek and Roman.) Sounds like your temple location would be full of atmosphere. I like the idea of it being near the beach.
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My shrine should be in a library. The sacraments would include reading stories to those that can’t and borrowing, reading, and returning books. – Erin Penn
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Erin what a lasting legacy for others <3
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Interesting to have a sun goddess. Many cultures (not all) have a sun god and moon goddess, which Westerners (like myself) often interpret as rational male vs. secret/intuitive female etc. But those are Western ideas. Also, I think I used to play Okami, so this brings back happy memories, though I could never figure it out the way my son tried to explain it to me. Looking forward to B-Z.
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Kaj, glad you found Amaterasu interesting. The celestials in this series come in all configurations. Very neat you’ve played one of the games mentioned. Happy you are looking forward to B-Z.
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Hi Lisa,
I loved the appearance of your blog, the welcome statement and the graphics for the alphabets! All mind blowing! I loved reading the post about Amaterasu. There’s so much about other cultures that I do not know and I look forward to reading all about it here.
My shrine probably would be atop a calm hill with gently blowing breeze, wild flowers and a view of the rising and setting sun!
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Shubhangi, thank you so much for your wonderful comment. Glad you are looking forward to learning/reading about more goddesses.
I like where you would choose your shrine to be. So nice to see the rising and setting sun from it. <3
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Dear Lisa,
Thanks for swinging by my blog, and I so love this eclectic theme of yours. I love the colouring in both the illustrations, The A looks gorgeous.
And fascinating how you shall be sharing about different Goddesses.
Interesting to know of Amaterasu.
If I had a shrine dedicated to me, it would be right in the midst of a forest, where moss and mushrooms cohabitate, deer and wolves frolic around and butterflies, bees and birds prance to the music of the forest sounds. :-) Ha! Ha! This took me down an ethereal world, so thank you. <3
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Natasha you are welcome on my stopping by your blog. Thank you about the illustrations.
I like how you see yourself in the center of a beautiful ecosystem for your shrine <3
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✨☺️ 🌱🌸🐾
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I really like the myth of the gods luring Amaterasu out of the cave :)
If I were a goddess… hmm. I’d want my shrine to be in a place that is hard to get to, so it wouldn’t be overrun by tourists, and where visitors could sit and admire a beautiful place in peace :)
http://multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com
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That is quite an ambitious theme, it looks like a lot of care went into both the research and the visuals. I like the idea of ending with a reflective question, it gives the posts a personal touch even for readers just passing by.
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Tamara, thank you very much. It all started with the coloring as the spark. Thank you for noticing about the reflective question. I hope all readers can get in touch with their inner goddess.
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“Amaterasu is locked in the cave after the lewd dance” – so even amongst Gods and Goddesses, oppression of the feminine takes place?
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Andrew, there is a lot of drama between the gods and goddesses generally, including that. You will see some pretty extreme situations unfolding with them, both good and not so good.
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Interesting theme. And the art work as well.
Good to know this. We call Surya, the sun god. Nice to read the pop culture references.
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Thank you x 2. I’ve noticed in every culture there are gods and goddesses for sun, moon, water, etc., which makes sense. Thanks for the info on Surya.
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How cool is she! If I were a goddess, I’d want a quiet and simple little shrine near a small waterfall. To commune with me, you’d just sit by the water in silence and think for a while.
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Someone, that would be a beautiful place to appreciate a goddess <3
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Well… I just learned that Japanese mythology is a thing! Cool colouring and information. If I were a goddess, I’d want my shrine to be in a clearing within a densely forested area, with a rock face that had an opening like a small cavern, and with a small stream burbling nearby.
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Steve, Japanese culture is full of mythology!!!! I think much of their anime incorporates their mythology into it. Thank you on the coloring and info :)
I love where you imagine your shrine, especially the rocks, the cavern, and burbling stream. I’m relaxing just thinking about it.
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Interesting topic, it is fun to learn about mythologies in different cultures!
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Thanks, Someone!
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Thank you, Lisa, for giving us this chance to summon up our inner goddess(es). I need her wisdom and serenity at this time! And here’s to Spring!
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