Amaterasu is the sun goddess in Japanese mythology revered as a primary deity. She is known for bringing light to the world and is a symbol of beauty and fertility. Amaterasu is crucial to the Japanese religious landscape, often associated with the imperial family, which claims descent from her. Her most famous myth involves her hiding in a cave, causing darkness to cover the world until she was lured out, restoring light and order. She represents the importance of harmony and balance in Shinto belief.