Hosuseri

Hosuseri(火須勢理命, Hosuseri-no-mikoto) is a kami that appears in Japanese mythology. According to the Kojiki, he is the second child of Ninigi-no-Mikoto and Konohanasakuya-hime. He is one of the grand-uncles of Emperor Jimmu.

While the first character ho(火) of his name means "flame" in modern Japanese, its etymological root is in the character for ripening ears of rice(穂, ho). That, in combination with the "advancing" meaning of suseri, results in his name meaning "Rice-Ear Advancing".

Overview

Hosuseri(火須勢理命) appears in the Kojiki but not in the Nihon Shoki. In the Kojiki, he is noted as the second child of Ninigi and Sakuyahime then makes no further appearances. After a brief sexual encounter with Ninigi, Sakuyahime becomes pregnant in one night. However, Ninigi doubts she could conceive so quickly. Frustrated with Ninigi's suspicion, Sakuyahime builds a long birthing hut and sets it on fire. Amid the blaze, she gives birth to three male kami: Hoderi, Hosuseri, and Hoori in that order.

There are variations on the tale of the birth of Ninigi's children in the Nihon Shoki giving different names and numbers of children ranging from two to four, but usually three. While the name Hosuseri(火須勢理命) is not seen, there does appear a Hosusori-no-mikoto(火闌降命) or Hosuseri-no-mikoto(火酢芹命; note the difference in kanji).