Kojiki #3 | The Islands and Gods Born from Izanagi and Izanami | Easy–Intermediate Japanese

🌸 About this video
Welcome to the third episode of my series, “Learn Japanese through the Kojiki.”
In this episode, we’ll follow Izanagi and Izanami as they create the islands of Japan and give birth to many gods.
However, their creation brings both life and tragedy, as the goddess Izanami gives birth to the fire god Kagutsuchi, leading to a heartbreaking event.
In this story, you’ll learn about:
🏝️ The birth of Japan’s eight great islands (大八島の国 – Ōyashima no Kuni)
🌲 The creation of many nature deities — gods of mountains, rivers, and winds
🔥 The tragic birth of Kagutsuchi, the fire god
💧 Izanami’s death and Izanagi’s grief — the path to the Land of the Dead (黄泉の国)
Through this story, you’ll discover how Japan’s natural world was believed to be filled with divine spirits — and naturally improve your Japanese listening and vocabulary skills.

📚 Level: Upper Beginner → Lower Intermediate (CEFR A2–B1 / JLPT N4–N3)
Perfect for learners who want to enjoy both Japanese language and culture through stories.

🕒 Chapters
00:00 Opening (オープニング)
00:17 Introduction (導入ナレーション)
01:38 The Creation of Islands (島々の誕生)
03:01 The Birth of Many Gods (神々の誕生)
03:59 The Tragic Event (悲しい出来事)
05:43 Question Time (しつもんの時間)
06:14 Question Time Part 1 (しつもん①～④)
07:39 Question Time Part 2 (しつもん⑤～⑧)
09:08 Replay Guide (How to Listen / 聞き方の説明)
09:35 Listen Again Without Subtitles (字幕なしでもう一度ストーリーを聞こう)
13:41 Ending & Next Episode Preview (エンディングと次回予告)

💡 Learning Tips
✔️ Listen several times to catch the rhythm of natural Japanese.
✔️ Try repeating short phrases aloud to practice pronunciation.
✔️ Pause during the question section and answer in Japanese to check comprehension.

📄 Study Materials (Ep.3)
Full script (with/without furigana), vocabulary list, and cultural notes:
👉 https://meg-smile.com/podcast/kojiki-...

📘 About Episode 4 and beyond
From Episode 4 onward, the full study PDFs and full-length videos will be available exclusively on Ko-fi to support the continuation of this series.
(The teaser and short preview will still be free on YouTube.)
If you'd like to continue learning with me, please check the details here:
👉 https://meg-smile.com/podcast/kojiki-...

🎞️ Watch the Kojiki Series
◀️ Previous Episode (Ep.2)
“The Birth of the Gods | 神様たちの誕生”
👉    • Kojiki #2 | The Birth of the Gods | Easy–I...  

▶️ Next Episode (Ep.4)
“The Land of Yomi – Izanagi’s Journey to the Underworld | 黄泉の国へ行ったイザナギ”
👉 https://meg-smile.com/podcast/kojiki-...
Scheduled for release on Saturday, November 22 at 8:00 AM (Japan Standard Time)!

🎬 Start from Episode 1
“What Is the Kojiki? | 古事記とは何か”
👉    • Kojiki #1 | What Is the Kojiki? | Easy–Int...  

☕ Support My Channel
If you enjoy my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi.
Your contribution helps me create more high-quality Japanese learning materials 💖
👉 https://ko-fi.com/megsmile

🏯 About the Kojiki Series
This series introduces the ancient myths of Japan — from the creation of heaven and earth to the birth of the gods and the origins of Japan’s emperors.
Through these stories, you’ll discover not only the Japanese language but also the deep cultural values that still shape Japan today.

🌏 Thinking about moving to Japan?
I also support visa and immigration procedures as a certified administrative scrivener (immigration lawyer) in Japan.
Learn more here:
👉 https://www.trust-gyosei.com/immigrat...

🎵 Images, Videos & Music Credits
CANVA: https://www.canva.com/
Adobe Stock: https://stock.adobe.com/jp/
MotionElements: https://www.motionelements.com/
irasutoya: https://www.irasutoya.com/
BGMer: http://bgmer.net

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