Gassan and the Tsukiyomi Theory
Ijouno has pointed out that the Tsukiyomi theory doesn’t go against Noragami’s themes, but I’d like to talk a bit about how being Tsukuyomi would actually suit Yato quite well.
Yato is terrified that deep down he is nothing but ‘Yaboku’, the god of calamity. He thinks that combat is his defining characteristic, even though he has a great number of skills. He has been abused by Trash Dad and has such little self esteem that the name ‘Yato’ couldn’t summon him out of Yomi.
But we all know that Yato isn’t cruel by nature. He was appropriated by Trash Dad for... well, whatever the hell Fujisaki is plotting. If Trash Dad sealed away Yato’s true name (which we know he’s capable of doing since he did it to Kugaha), Yato might actually be Tsukiyomi’s reincarnation.
Other people have argued the evidence much better than I ever could, so I recommend looking at the Tsukuyomi Theory masterpost. Consider the connection to Iki City, how Nora manifested as a water blade, how he alone can cut ‘bonds’, and of course those eyes.
Moon in the background - maybe some foreshadowing?
Being Tsukiyomi would be perfect for Yato. Despite being a major god, Tsukiyomi has been banished from Heaven. He’s not a god of war... in fact, women visit his shrine in Kyoto to pray for safe childbirth. That might explain why Yato is so good with children. It would make Yato feel a lot better about himself to know that his true nature is not a violent one. But being Tsukiyomi wouldn’t solve all of Yato’s problems. Yes, he wouldn’t have to worry about disappearing, but as we’ve seen with Ebisu, reincarnation isn’t something to look forward to in the Noragami universe. He also wouldn’t suddenly be a top-tier god.
For a major god who is supposed to be Amaterasu’s brother, Tsukiyomi’s network of shrines is almost non-existent. You can find shrines to Amaterasu almost anywhere, but Tsukiyomi’s shrines are few and far in between. Also, while Amaterasu’s shrines are lavish and prestigious, Tsukiyomi’s shrines are usually local, and very humble.
Tsukiyomi’s shrine in Iki City
He has a significant presence in the Ise Jingu complex, but of course Ise Jingu is dedicated to Amaterasu. Tsukiyomi’s shrine in Kyoto has the deity that was enshrined in Iki City, but both of these shrines are fairly small. The one in Kyoto isn’t even a blip on the touristic radar, and Iki City is on an island. It might be worth visiting for the cute amulets though! There’s Tsukiyomi (月読／月夜見) shrines elsewhere, but they’re so minor that Japanese Wikipedia doesn’t even have articles for them.
Tsukiyomi’s shrine in Kyoto
Tsukiyomi does have one shrine that used to be first rank during the Meiji period though, and it’s on Gassan (月山). What makes this so very interesting for Noragami fans is that one of the authors comes from Yamagata.
Yamagata is in Tohoku, the northern part of Japan. This area in the 700s was independent from southern Japan. Southern Japan was controlled by the Yamato who worshiped Amaterasu, while northern Japan was controlled by the Emishi and other native tribes. The Yamato fought many wars to conquer the Emishi, and eventually succeeded.
The Emishi sent envoys to China, had a respected general, and were known for their mounted battle tactics. Since the Noragami manga is leading up to explaining the war between the Emishi and Heaven, maybe Tohoku will play some role in the story. This would be wonderful, since Tohoku would really benefit from any tourism Noragami could generate. Although it’s been 5 years since the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster, the area is still in rough shape.
Gassan’s mountain shrine
But I digress. Back to Tsukiyomi’s shrine of former 1st rank, Gassan. Apparently Tsukiyomi wasn’t enshrined there until the Muromachi period, so in the 1300s... that’s well after Heian period, when Yato was ‘born’. Until then, that shrine belonged to a moon god that had nothing to do with Tsukiyomi.
Could this have been an Emishi moon god? Was Tsukiyomi enshrined there to erase the local god, or to continue local traditions while giving a subtle finger to the south? Who knows. I’d be really interested to see if Noragami delves further into religious colonialism.
Gassan being Yato’s main shrine fits his character very nicely. First of all, it’s in Tohoku. This area of Japan is completely unpretentious, has been historically poor, hard-working, and is a little mysterious. Sound familiar?
Gassan is in Yamagata, and is the tallest of three sacred mountains called Dewa Sanzan (出羽三山). It’s the mountain symbolizing death, so Gassan is usually climbed after Haguro (representing birth) but before Yudono (rebirth). If you think this theme sounds pretty Buddhist, you’re right. It also matches Noragami’s themes too, doesn’t it?
Yamagata’s most well-known product is cherries. That’s right friends. Cherries. Yamagata cherries are famous in Japan, and if you visit Yamagata you can buy almost anything cherry-flavoured. Cherry-flavoured cider? Of course. Cherry-flavoured curry? Why the hell not.
Another important point to consider is that even though Tsukiyomi’s shrine on Gassan is a very holy pilgrimage site, it’s a little rustic and hard to access. So the shrine isn’t actually Gassan’s main attraction.
What brings most people to this mountain is the snow.
That’s right. Like Yato being overshadowed by Yukine because he’s a hafuri, Gassan is known for its amazing snow. Gassan is one of the best mountains in the area for skiing, and there’s snow on the mountain from October to July.
TL;DR - The real life aspects of Gassan and Tohoku fit into the Tsukuyomi theory quite nicely.
