Key Points

- Eight-headed and eight-tailed Japanese dragon/serpent 

- Defeated by Susanoo 

- Tail Contained Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (Sacred Japanese Sword)

Brief Bio 

Yamata no Orochi is a legendary eight-headed and eight-tailed serpent that appears in Japanese mythology. Both the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki record the serpent as being slain by the god Susanoo, in order to rescue the goddess Kushinada-hime. It is also noted that the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, one of the Three Sacred Treasures, was found within the serpent's tail.

In local tradition, Yamata no Orochi was believed to have survived their encounter with Susanoo and fled to Mount Ibuki, where they were venerated as Ibuki Daimyōjin (伊吹大明神). Additionally, figures such as Emperor Antoku and the Nāga Maiden have been identified as incarnations of Yamata no Orochi.