The second of the three Creation Kami to appear in Takama-ga-Hara: the first, Ame-no-minaka-nushi, existed/exists in splendid isolation but Takami-Musubi-kami, along with the third kami to appear, Kami-Musubi-kami, played a somewhat more active role in the Age of the Gods.

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It is easy to identify two main streams in the mythology, one centering on Ama-Terasu-no-kami/Takahama-ga-Hara, the other on Ōkuni-nushi-kami/Izumo. In the early centuries A.D. Izumo and Yamato, the area south of the current Nara, were among several powerful regional clans but by the 5th century Yamato had become predominant and gradually extended its power throughout the country. Traditionalists claim that the current imperial family has "reigned since time immemorial" (bansei ikkei) i.e. is descended from the Yamato period rulers and hence through them from Ama-Terasu, The compilation of the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki was part of a policy of the early Yamato emperors to legitimize, even sanctify, their immediate ancestors' seizure of power and as part of this the traditions and cultures of the losers were homogenized into the Yamato culture or, according to one school of thought, written out of history.