I spent months mapping the family tree of the Japanese pantheon from the creation of the islands to the first emperor. Turned it into a full documentary

I map mythological family trees as a hobby (did the Chinese pantheon recently), and Shinto turned out to be a completely different challenge the line between kami, ancestors and emperors never fully separates. The chain from Izanagi and Izanami through Amaterasu down to Jimmu is genealogy, theology and politics all at once.

The full documentary (about an hour): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNhLzeeZyPw

Things that surprised me: how much of the Kojiki is really a political document legitimizing one clan's descent. How Susanoo is both villain and culture hero depending on the region. And how Ame-no-Uzume's dance might be the single most consequential comedy act in mythology.

If you spot an error, tell me I'd rather fix it than defend it.