The Yomotsu-shikome are Japanese demons of the underworld (Yomi). When the God Izanagi ran away from his wife, the Goddess Izanami, in the underworld, she sent the Yomotsu-shikome to chase him. Izanagi managed to escape them, first by throwing down his headdress which turned into grapes that the Yomotsu-shikome stopped to eat. When they returned to their pursuit, Izanagi threw down a comb which turned into bamboo shoots, and the Yomotsu-shikome again stopped to eat. They were catching up to Izanagi a third time when he urinated against a tree and created a river that stopped them from following. The Yomotsu-shikome, whose name means “ugly women of Yomi,” are also known as Yomotsu-hisame, meaning “hags of Yomi.”

Tara is the Buddhist Goddess of compassion. She is said to have been born from the tears of Avalokiteshvara, the Lord of the World. He was looking down from heaven at all the people suffering in the world and he wept to see their pain. From his tears there emerged two Goddesses, the peaceful White Tara and the fierce Green Tara. White Tara represents the day and calm serenity; Green Tara represents the night and helpful activity.

Green Tara is depicted seated on a lotus, but with one leg outstretched and ready for action. She holds blue lotuses, symbols of purity, and she is adorned with jewels. She is a savior Goddess, called on by followers to overcome fears and dangers. White Tara also sits on a lotus, but she is at rest. She is often shown with seven eyes—the usual two, one on her forehead, and one on each of her hands and feet. White Tara is called on to help followers overcome obstacles.

Aside from green and white, other forms of Tara are seen as red (associated with magnetism), black (associated with power), yellow (associated with abundance and generosity), or blue (associated with protection). In Tibetan Buddhism, where Tara is most venerated, she has 21 forms in various colors, as follows:
•Green Tara, the source of all Taras
•The Tara who averts disasters (white)
•The Tara who averts earth-born calamities (blue)
•The Tara who bestows prosperity (yellow)
•The Tara who fulfills wishes (green)
•The Tara who bestows longevity (white)
•The Tara who averts the evil effects of poison (white)
•The Tara who averts destruction wrought by fire (yellow)
•The Tara who averts destruction wrought by water (red)
•The Tara who averts evil caused by wild beasts (blue)
•The Tara who averts evil affecting cattle (red)
•The Tara who averts evil caused by demons (blue)
•The Tara who increases power (red)
•The Tara who increases wisdom (yellow)
•The Tara who averts hell-born calamities (red)
•The Tara who averts destruction caused by wind (white)
•The Tara who averts evil caused by robbers (blue)
•The Tara who averts destruction caused by armies (blue)
•The Tara who averts heaven-born calamities (green)
•The Tara who subdues demons (blue)
•The Tara who heals sickness (green)

Tara’s name means “to cross over,” and other names and epithets for her include:
Arya Tara
Cittamani Tara
Khadiravani Tara
Nila Tara
Shveta Tara
Sita Tara
Syama Tara
Ugra Tara
Vajra Tara
Tara Amba
Tara Dharani
Tara Utpala
Bhrkuti
Bribsun
Dol Jyang
Ekajati
Hlamo
Janguli
Konjo
Kurukulla
Mamaki
Parnasavari
Vasundhara
Jetsun dolma
Dolma Sermo
Dolma Karmo
Drolma
Sgrolma
Sgrol-dkar
Norgyuma
Ritro Loma Chen
Jigjema
Shen.gyi.mi.tub.ma
Shen.le Nam.par Gyel.ma
Tarani Bosatsu
Mother of Perfected Wisdom
Mother of the Buddhas

Wakahirume (pronounced wa-ka-HEER-oo-may) is the Japanese Goddess of the rising sun and of weaving. She is the younger sister of Amaterasu, daughter of Izanami and Izanagi. Wakahirume was a fantastic weaver and she was often to be found in Amaterasu’s weaving halls, creating garments for all the Gods. When their brother Susanoo flew into a rage against Amaterasu, he threw a skinned pony into the hall. Wakahirume was so startled that she fell onto her shuttle and died. It was her grief over Wakahirume’s death that drove Amaterasu to hide herself away in a cave. In the third century CE, Empress Jingu established the Ikuta Shrine in honor of Wakahirume, one of the oldest shrines in Japan. Wakahirume’s name, which means “young day woman,” is also seen as Wakahiru-Me and Wakahirume-no-Mikoto.