The Kami Who Gathers the Thoughts of the Gods

Omoikane is the Japanese kami of wisdom, counsel and sound judgement, whose name is understood to mean something like he who combines and weighs the thoughts of many, the intelligence that gathers up the deliberations of all the gods. He plays his part at two pivotal moments of the Kojiki myth. When the sun-goddess Amaterasu hides herself in the rock-cave and the world falls into darkness, it is Omoikane whom the assembled kami charge with devising a plan to lure her out, and the stratagem he contrives, the crowing cocks, the mirror and the jewels, and the dance of Ame-no-Uzume, succeeds in drawing her forth and restoring light to the world. Later, when Heaven resolves to bring the earthly land under its rule, Omoikane is again the deity consulted on which messenger to send. He is thus the personification of wise counsel in the councils of the gods, and is enshrined and invoked accordingly, notably in connection with learning and good decision.