Who is the father of Emperor Jimmu in Japanese mythology?
Answer
Ugayafukiaezu
44 Japanese Mythology Trivia Questions with Answers
44 public questions with answers, drawn from the well. How many can you answer?
Japanese mythology trivia explores Shinto deities, creation stories, legendary emperors, supernatural creatures, sacred objects, and tales preserved in early Japanese chronicles. Questions may identify Emperor Jimmu’s father, the food goddess killed by Tsukuyomi, or the thunder deity associated with swords.
The collection also reaches into folklore, including the rabbit who outwits crocodiles, the hearth deity, the horned oni, and the unusual chimera-like creature with a monkey’s head, tanuki body, tiger legs, and snake tail. It suits mythology students, Japanese-culture enthusiasts, classroom activities, anime and folklore fans, and pub quizzes that reward precise names and story knowledge.
Which food goddess was slain by the moon god Tsukuyomi?
Answer
Ukemochi
Which thunder god is also a deity of swords in Shinto?
Answer
Takemikazuchi
What is the name of the Japanese myth about a rabbit who tricks a crocodile?
Answer
White Hare of Inaba
Who is the legendary first emperor of Japan?
Answer
Emperor Jimmu
In Shinto, what number is often used to represent the countless kami?
Answer
Eight million
Who is the goddess of Mount Fuji in Japanese myth?
Answer
Konohanasakuya-hime
Which Japanese legendary hero killed the demon Shuten-dōji?
Answer
Minamoto no Yorimitsu
What is the name of the heavenly rock cave where Amaterasu hid?
Answer
Ama-no-Iwato
Which goddess became the ruler of the underworld Yomi?
Answer
Izanami
What is the name of the fisherman who visited the Dragon Palace in Japanese legend?
Answer
Urashima Taro
What is the Japanese word for a fox spirit?
Answer
Kitsune
Which goddess is the Shinto deity of music and eloquence?
Answer
Benzaiten
Which figure is the mother of Emperor Jimmu in Japanese myth?
Answer
Tamayori-hime
Who is the daughter of the dragon king and wife of Hoori?
Answer
Toyotama-hime
Which primordial kami is considered the first deity in the Kojiki?
Answer
Amenominakanushi
What is the name of the heavenly realm of the gods in Shinto?
Answer
Takamagahara
Which kami is the god of warriors and archery?
Answer
Hachiman
Which three-legged crow is a guide in Japanese mythology?
Answer
Yatagarasu
What legendary sword was found in the tail of Yamata no Orochi?
Answer
Kusanagi
Which deity is the Japanese moon god?
Answer
Tsukuyomi
Which god is the Shinto deity of storms and the sea?
Answer
Susanoo
What is the name of the sacred mirror, one of the Three Sacred Treasures?
Answer
Yata no Kagami
Which male deity created the Japanese islands with Izanami?
Answer
Izanagi
What eight-headed serpent did Susanoo defeat?
Answer
Yamata no Orochi
Which sun goddess is the most important kami in Shinto?
Answer
Amaterasu
Japanese Mythology trivia — quick answers
What are good Japanese mythology trivia questions?
Good Japanese mythology questions cover creation myths, Shinto kami, legendary rulers, sacred animals, yokai, and famous episodes from the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. Examples include identifying the food goddess slain by Tsukuyomi, naming the first emperor, and recognizing the Japanese term for an ogre.
How hard is Japanese mythology trivia?
Japanese mythology trivia ranges from familiar figures such as Amaterasu and Susanoo to specialized questions about lesser-known kami, yokai, chronicle traditions, and symbolic objects. Beginners can handle broad story questions, while detailed names and creature descriptions are more challenging without prior study.
Who is Izanagi in Japanese mythology?
Izanagi is a primordial kami who, together with Izanami, is credited in Japanese mythology with creating the islands of Japan and many other deities. After Izanami dies, Izanagi journeys to the underworld. His purification after returning produces important kami, including Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo.
Who is Amaterasu?
Amaterasu is the Shinto goddess of the sun and one of the most important kami in Japanese mythology. She is associated with the imperial line and is traditionally regarded as the ancestor of Japan’s emperors. Her retreat into a cave and eventual return is one of Japan’s best-known sacred myths.
What is an oni in Japanese mythology?
An oni is a powerful supernatural being in Japanese folklore, commonly depicted as a large, fearsome ogre with horns, sharp teeth, wild hair, and a club. Oni are often associated with violence, disease, punishment, or disorder, though stories and festivals can also portray them in protective or comic roles.