According to legend, these treasures were brought to Earth byNinigi-no-Mikoto, legendary ancestor of theJapanese imperial line, when his grandmother, the sun goddessAmaterasu, sent him to pacify Japan.[5] These treasures were eventually said to be passed down toEmperor Jimmu, who was the firstEmperor of Japan and Ninigi's great-grandson.[6] Traditionally, they were a symbol of the emperor's divinity as a descendant of Amaterasu, confirming hislegitimacy as paramount ruler of Japan. When Amaterasu hid in a cave from her brotherSusanoo-no-Mikoto, thus plunging the world in darkness, the goddessAme-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto hung the mirror and jewels outside the cave and lured her out of hiding. Upon emerging from the cave, Amaterasu was so startled by her reflection in the mirror that it gave the gods an opportunity to extract her. Susanoo later presented the sword Kusanagi to Amaterasu as a token of apology; he had obtained it from the body of an eight-headed serpent,Yamata no Orochi.[7]
At the conclusion of theGenpei War in 1185, the six-year-oldEmperor Antoku and the Regalia were under the control of theTaira clan. They were present when the Taira were defeated by the rivalMinamoto clan at theBattle of Dan-no-ura, which was fought on boats in the shallowKanmon Straits. Although there are some medieval texts relating to the loss of the sword, which variously contended that a replica was forged afterwards, or that the lost sword itself was a replica, or even that the sword was returned to land by supernatural forces;[8][9] replicas of the sword and mirror were actually made as early as the 9th century, and the original sword is considered entrusted toAtsuta Shrine inNagoya.[10]
The importance of the Imperial Regalia to Japan is evident from the declarations made by EmperorHirohito toKōichi Kido on 25 and 31 July 1945 at the end ofWorld War II, when he ordered theLord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan to protect them "at all costs".[11] WhenSupreme Commander for the Allied Powers (GHQ) arrived in Japan, Emperor Hirohito's greatest fear was that the Three Sacred Treasures would fall into enemy hands.[12] In a diary entry by Kōichi Kido dated 31 July, after thePotsdam Declaration, Emperor Hirohito told Kido, "In the end, I think it would be best to move the sacred treasures ofIse andAtsuta close to me and protect them. ... In the event of an emergency, I believe there is no other option than to protect them myself and share their fate," and expressed his readiness to jump into the sea with the sacred treasures and die if the situation came to that.[12]
Presentation of the swordKusanagi no Tsurugi and theYasakani no Magatama at the accession of EmperorAkihito, 7 January 1989
Since 690, the presentation of these items to theEmperor by thepriests at the shrine has been a central element of theenthronement ceremony. This ceremony is not public, and these items are by tradition seen only by theEmperor and certain priests. While their actual locations are not confirmed, it is commonly thought that the sword is located at theAtsuta Shrine inNagoya, the jewel is located at theThree Palace Sanctuaries inKōkyo (the Imperial Palace inTokyo), and the mirror is located at theIse Grand Shrine inMie Prefecture.[13] Their first post-World War II enthronement appearance occurred during theaccession and enthronement of Akihito in 1989 and 1990. Aside from their presence during theabdication of Akihito on 30 April 2019, their latest appearance occurred during the enthronement of EmperorNaruhito. He formally took possession of the regalia in a brief ceremony on 1 May 2019.[14][15][16] The items themselves were never revealed during these public occasions as they remained shrouded from view in packages or boxes.
When these items are not being used for their ceremonial purpose, their supposed locations are kept off limits to the public.[17]Mikael Adolphson, a professor at Cambridge University, stated that this hidden strategy "adds mystique, and thus, authority, to the objects." He went on to say that Shinto religious tradition is "especially protective" of its symbols. There is a general reluctance in Japan to allow a historical analysis of the regalia as such an assessment could potentially "de-mythologize" the items.[16]
Scholars consider the imperial regalia to represent the fusion of Japan's ancient indigenous groups with new arrivals. The three treasures are a symbol that the emperor should unite the ethnic groups without discrimination.[18]
InPretty Soldier Sailor Moon, a popular Japanese manga and anime franchise, the three talismans of the Outer Senshi are stylized as a mirror, sword and jewel. When brought together, they manifest theHoly Grail.[21]
InYu Yu Hakusho an early episode arc focuses on the theft of three "Artifacts of Darkness" – A soul-stealing jeweled orb, a wish-granting magical mirror, and a demonic sword.
In theOne Piece manga byEiichiro Oda, the character Kizaru – who has the ability to transmutate into light – has fighting techniques named for each of the Three Sacred Treasures.
In the popularKing of Fighters video game series, the regalia form the icons of the three sacred treasures of the Kusanagi, Yagami and Kagura families.
InFinal Fantasy XIV: Stormblood, the Primal Susano was contained in three treasures sacred to the tortoise-like Kojin of the Ruby Sea; the sword Ame no Murakumo, the mirror Yata-no-Kagami, and the gem Yasakani-no-Magatama. When the three treasures were brought together, Susano was restored and challenged the player to battle.
InNoragami, the shinkis, i.e. spirits that gods use for various tasks and purposes, of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu are called "three sacred treasures"; they are named "Mikagami" (the mirror), "Mitama" (themagatama jewel), and "Mitsurugi" (the sword).
InŌkami, Amaterasu uses three types of divine instruments based on the three sacred treasures: Reflectors (the mirror), Rosaries (the jewels), and Glaives (the sword).
InNaruto, Orochimaru uses the "Kusanagi Blade" against the third hokage. Itachi is seen using attacks utilizing Yasakani beads and the "Yata Mirror." Itachi also uses the "Totsuka Blade" which is said to be a variant of the Kusanagi Blade.
InKid Icarus,Pit uses the "Three Sacred Treasures" to beatMedusa. They are the "Arrow of Light", the "Mirror Shield", and the "Wings of Pegasus".
In theYu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game, the "Mikanko" archetype features cards referencing the three sacred treasures: "Ha-Re the Sword", "Ni-Ni the Mirror" and "Hu-Li the Jewel", all of which have names deriving from descendants of the sun goddess Amaterasu, in which a fourth card, "Ohime the Manifested", appears to represent.
^"General Policy Speech by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the 156th Session of the Diet".Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet. 31 January 2003. Retrieved5 September 2017.(Structural Reform in Lifestyle) From the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s, washing machines, refrigerators, and black and white televisions were called the "three sacred treasures" that symbolized the new lifestyle; from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s they were automobiles, air conditioners, and color televisions.
Hamasaki, Yōsuke (2025).敗戦とトラウマ―次こそ「正しく」戦えるか [Defeat and Trauma: Will we be able to fight "rightly" next time?]. Criterion Series (in Japanese). Kijunsha.ISBN978-4-8284-2751-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
