In Japanese mythology, Watatsumi is the sea deity associated with rule over the ocean and is linked to the divine family of Izanagi and Izanami.
Watatsumi appears under variant names and forms in Japan’s early mythic traditions. The Kojiki uses the name Watatsumi, while related texts and later interpretations connect the sea god with Ryūjin, the dragon king. These traditions often portray the deity as powerful, wealthy, and capable of controlling marine forces.
Watatsumi is not the same figure as Oyamatsumi, the mountain deity, although their names and family connections can cause confusion. In the tale of Hoori and Toyotama-hime, Watatsumi is the powerful father and sea-world ruler whose palace lies beneath the waves. Spellings and genealogies vary between the Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, and later sources.