Suseribime no Mikoto

Suseribime is the daughter of Susanoo whom Okuninushi met upon entering the netherworld. The two fell in love at first sight, and their bond gave Okuninushi the courage and inside knowledge needed to survive Susanoo's trials—sleeping in rooms full of snakes, centipedes, and fire.

When Okuninushi seized Susanoo's sword, bow, and koto (zither) and escaped with Suseribime, Susanoo called out from the border, acknowledging Okuninushi's worthiness and essentially blessing the match. Suseribime's role as helper and co-conspirator in this escape makes her one of the more active female figures in the Kojiki.

Her relationship with Okuninushi was later tested by jealousy when he took additional wives, and the Kojiki preserves a famous poetic exchange between the couple that speaks frankly of desire, jealousy, and reconciliation—one of the earliest love poems in Japanese literature.