the goddess
My name is Ame-no-Uzume-no-mikoto, but everyone calls me Uzume. I was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. I still live within the city, but I'm rarely ever home. I love to travel and I make a point of going somewhere once a week, even if it's just somewhere local.
One of my most favorite things to do is watch the sunrise. I get up every morning, before the sun, and I walk the short distance to a hill over-looking the city. I make sure the sun comes up like it's supposed to while enjoying the colors in the sky.
Also, I sing and dance. Not like one of those... I can't come up with the right name-- clowns? Anyway. The singing is separate from the dancing. They both happen to be hobbies of mine. I love to have a good time, and when I am not traveling, I am partying. But no drinking. I can have a good time without the aid of alcohol. I leave that for the Greeks.
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the myth
Ame-no-Uzume-no-mikoto (天宇受売命, 天鈿女命, Ame-no-Uzume-no-mikoto) is the goddess of dawn and revelry in the Shinto religion of Japan. She famously relates to the tale of the missing sun deity, Amaterasu. Her name can also be pronounced as Ama-no-Uzume.
Amaterasu's brother, the storm god Susano'o, had vandalized her sacred buildings and almost killed one of her maidens because she refused to trust him. In turn, Amaterasu became terrified of his wrath and retreated into a cave, Ame-no-Iwato. The world, without the illumination of the sun, became dark and the gods could not lure Amaterasu out of her hiding place.
The clever Uzume overturned a tub near the cave entrance and began a dance on it, tearing off her clothing in front of the other deities. They considered this so comical that they laughed heartily at the sight.
Amaterasu heard them, and peered out to see what all the fuss was about. When she opened the cave, she saw her glorious reflection in a mirror which Uzume had placed on a tree, and slowly emerged from her hiding spot.
At that moment, the god Ame-no-Tajikarawo-no-mikoto dashed forth and closed the cave behind her, refusing to budge so that she could no longer retreat. Another god tied a magic shirukume rope across the entrance. The deities Ame-no-Koyane-no-mikoto and Ame-no-Futodama-no-mikoto then asked Amaterasu to rejoin the divine. She agreed, and light was restored to the earth.
Uzume is still worshiped today as a Shinto kami, deities indigenous to Japan. She is also known as Ame-no-Uzume, The Great Persuader, and The Heavenly Alarming Female. She is depicted in kyogen farce as Okame, a woman who revels in her sensuality.
From Wikipedia
Uzume teaches us about the healing power of laughter and dance, and reminds us that we can often find healing and wisdom in humor.
She appears as an ordinary 28-year-old girl living life like other mortals. She doesn't flaunt her status as a deity. Other muses wouldn't know she's a deity unless they are familiar with Japanese mythology or are another deity.
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