Quick Facts
- Also spelled:
- Sarutahiko
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Sarudahiko
Japanese mythology
Also known as: Saruda-hiko, Saruta-hiko
Sarudahiko, in Japanese mythology, an earthly deity who offered himself as a guide to the divine grandchild Ninigi, when he descended to take charge of the earth. His brilliance while he waited on the crossroad was so great it reached up to heaven, and the goddess Amenouzume was sent down to inquire who he was and why he waited there. The two are often associated together in folk art.
Sarudahiko is popularly worshipped among Shintō followers as a god of the crossroads, as an example of loyal service to the emperor, and as an embodiment of male sexuality. He is depicted as having a red face, a huge protruding nose (which is of phallic significance), and large round eyes.

" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">