According to Japanese mythology, the eight main islands that
make up Japan were created by two gods dripping water from a
sacred stick. Consequently, all things are believed to have come
directly from the gods and goddesses. This belief lends insight
into the Shinto shrines that are dedicated to the worship of
just about anything (even cigarettes!). One of the major deities
is When the Sun Goddess was young, she was deceived by her
younger brother and retreated into a cave in despair, thus
thrusting both heaven and earth into darkness. The other gods
and goddesses gathered outside her hiding place, armed with
prayer beads and chants, determined to lure her out. Another
young goddess decided to dress up in a crazy costume to give the
situation some humor. Her antics caused the deities gathered
there to laugh with such merriment that the Sun Goddess poked
her head out to see what was going on. When she did, a young god
grabbed her and slung her back up into the sky. A rope was hung
across the cave's entrance to