The Dark Side of Japan

Nihon-Shoki the Birth of Japan

I like to read books time to time and I have read many Japanese literature texts from ancient times till present times. I personally enjoy many of the premodern Japanese literature. Such texts are difficult to read if you are not familiar with Japanese history or culture. In addition to that, there are just way too many literature out there that you aren't sure which one to read.

In this article, I would like to recommend Japanese anthology called Nihon-Shoki, The Chronicles of Japan. This illustrates the beginning of Japan and is a bible of Japan. It is vital to understand this series of tales in order to deeply understand Japan. Japan is not about stupid anime or sub-culture bullshit that you weaboos love. This collection of tales is the very ancient and core of Japan.

Nihon-Shoki, The Chronicles of Japan 

It illustrates birth of Japan from Shintoistic perspectives and here are the very very brief summary of the first chapter of Nihon-Shoki.

There was sky and ocean but nothing else. In heaven begot many Gods and two of the Gods, Izanagi and Izanami, were sent to earth. 

They mate each other and borne islands arising from the ocean and many Gods.  Those Gods are translated as Kami and the concept slightly differs from the western god or gods. Shintoism is a polytheistic religion and there are so many Gods in Shintoism. It is often referred to as "Yaoyorozu no Kami" which is translated as 8,000,000 Gods. 
It is only later period that Buddhism came to be influential in Japan. Initially Japan is not Buddhist country but Shintoist.