, or is a part of the Japanese myth cycle and also a major deity of the
Shinto religion. She is seen as the goddess of the sun, but also of the universe. The name Amaterasu derived from Amateru meaning "shining in heaven." The meaning of her whole
name, Amaterasu-omikami, is "the great august kami (god) who shines in the heaven". According to the
Kojiki and
Nihon Shoki in
Japanese mythology, the
Emperors of Japan are considered to be
direct descendants of Amaterasu.