Also: Tsuki-yomi, Tsuki no kami or Tsukiyomi
Japanese: 月読の命 or 月夜見の尊
Translation: Moon-Reading, Moon-Night-Possessor or Moonlit-Night-Watcher

Tsukuyomi is the Moon kami. There are three separate creation stories for Tsukuyomi; two from the Ninhongi and one from the Kojiki.

In the Kojiki (70-71) he is the second of Izanagi’s noble children, born from his right eye during Izanagi’s purification after he escaped from Yomi. He is the brother to Amaterasu and Susanoo. Compared to his siblings, there seem to be fewer stories about Tsukuyomi in Shinto/Japanese mythology. Izanagi gave Tsukuyomi dominion over the night.

In the Nihongi (18-19) after Izanagi and Izanami created Japan with all her rivers and mountains, etc, by acts of divine sexual reproduction they decided there needed to be a set of rulers to preside over it. Accordingly they created Amartasu and Tsukuyomi to and assigned to them the day and night respectively.

In the Nihongi (20) Tsukuyomi was created from a white copper mirror in Izanagi’s right hand while Amaterasu was produced from a white copper mirror in Izanagi’s left hand.

However he was created, afterwards Tsukuyomi ascended the ladder to Takamagahara and lived with his sister, Amaterasu for a time. Amaterasu sent Tsukuyomi to represent her at a feast given by Uke-mochi, the kami of food. Uke-mochi made the food by turning to the ocean and spit out fish, then she faced the forest and game came out of her mouth, lastly she turned toward the rice paddy and coughed up a bowl of rice. Although the food looked exquisite, Tsukuyomi was disgusted and insulted by method of preparation. He called Uke-mochi filthy for poducing the meal in this way and killed her with his sword.

When Amaterasu heard of Uke-mochi’s death she became furious with Tsukuyomi. She called him wicked and swore never to see him face to face again. Amaterasu moved to another part of Takamagahara. Since then the two siblings have lived apart alternating in the sky.

Apparently Tsukuyomi’s gender was never given in the original source material. He is considered male because of his aggressive attack on Uke-mochi an action that is considered male. Another suggestion of his maleness is a line the Nihongi that suggests that he was created to be Amaterasu’s consort.

In the Nihongi Tsukuyomi is described as being clad in mystical garments of radiant color.

Tsukuyomi’s most noted shrines are Ise, Mt. Gassan and Kyoto. Ise is Amatersu’s shrine and Tsukuyomi is venerated there in the Outer Shrine, the food kami is also enshrined in the Outer Shrine. Gassan means mountain of the moon and is a famous location for religious pilgrimages. In Kyoto he is venerated at the Wakamiya Shrine.