Kami of the Kojiki
Sahimochi no Kami
佐比持神
When Watatsumi no Ōkami gathered the wani and asked in how many days they could take Hoori no Mikoto home, only a wani one fathom long offered to take him back in a single day, and it was chosen. When it carried Hoori no Mikoto on its neck and brought him back as promised, Hoori no Mikoto gave it a small sword with a cord, and so it came to be called Sahimochi no Kami.
This page introduces the name and the story recorded in the Kojiki.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
Story and genealogy in the Kojiki
When Watatsumi no Ōkami gathered the wani and asked in how many days they could take Hoori no Mikoto home, only a wani one fathom long offered to take him back in a single day, and it was chosen. When it carried Hoori no Mikoto on its neck and brought him back as promised, Hoori no Mikoto gave it a small sword with a cord, and so it came to be called Sahimochi no Kami.
Source: 國學院大學・青空文庫／武田祐吉校訂
Names and how they are recorded
The original text has “wani.” It is not asserted that this is the crocodile of today.
Source: 國學院大學
Scenes in the text
Appears in the Kojiki in “The Visit to the Land of the Sea Kami” (first volume). You can trace the relevant passages of the text through the sources below.
Source: 國學院大學・青空文庫／武田祐吉校訂
An example of a chant (in Japanese)
祓え給い、清め給え、神（かむ）ながら守り給い、幸（さきわ）え給え
Sources (in Japanese)
- 國學院大學「古事記ビューアー・神名データベース「佐比持神」」（2026-10-15 確認）
- 青空文庫／武田祐吉校訂「校註 古事記 〔海幸と山幸〕」（2026-10-15 確認）