Chapter One:

1. Shimenawa: rope around the stone, with the pieces of papers.

2. Kuni-no-Tokotachi-no-mikoto, Kuni-toko-tachi or Ameno-minaka-nahi: is said to be the child of the Chaos, this is, when there was still nothing. According to the legends, it's said to be the shoot of a rush (the original chaos) or grass. His name means: 'the One who is over the World Everlasting' or 'the Master of the Center of the Sky' (don't know if they mean something like a heaven). It is not clear whether they were two or one deity, but he's also referred to as 'Lord who Permanently Established the Country' being (the one who orders everything). He generated (as it's written in the book) two deities: Taka-mi-musubi (would be 'the God Producer of the Height') and Kami-mi-masubi (would be 'the Goddess Producer of the Divine or Miraculous'). Together the three of them are considered to be the original triad of all the gods, men and things (and so on).

Chapter Two:

1. Oni: demons that were adopted from the Chinese myths, but suffered a big change in Japanese legends. They could be comic sometimes. Most of the stories were made after Buddhism became popular in Japan. One of these stories is of Momotaro, the Peach Boy.

2. Zenki's horns: Zenki does not have his horns anymore. According to the manga, back when he served under Ozuno Enno, Zenki's horns were torn out by Vasara, the former leader of Ozuno's demons. When he becomes the demon lord of light, I assume the horns he gains then come from Goki.

3. Ama-terasu and Susa-no-ou: they are almost the most important goddess and god, respectively, in Japan. Their story will be retold in future chapters, well, a bit adapted.

4. Susa-no-ou: sometimes written "Susa-no-oh." The "ou" is kind of a title, like King or Lord. That's proper for the King of Gods.

5. The sword's name: Murakumo-no-Tsurugi is also known as Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. As soon as I get more information, I'll add it.

Chapter Three:

1. Princess Yumiko and Makiko: they are great pen-pals of mine in Japan. That's why I am using those names.

2. Prince Opo-tomo: Zenki's father was not yet either a king or an emperor. But he later appointed himself Emperor. (Kojiki's notes).

3. Latent Dragon: Chinese expression for Crown Prince, or the destined emperor who has not yet come to the throne.

4. Kunugi: a big oak tree (Quercus serrata), mystic plant. It is said that lived in the Tsukuchi Island. It was so big that the shadow laid at daybreak or nightfall could cover miles around it. When it fell (torn down by nature, I hope) the trunk was so long as a mountain range, and hundreds of people could walk over it. It seems this story was made up to explain the origin of coal in that island.

5. Heir apparent: Same as crown prince (word used in the Kojiki). Every prince or emperor had his own heir apparent. At the time Zenki was born (655 a.d.c.) there was a problem not solved regarding rights for royalty families. (sources: Kojiki and Nihongi).

6. Prince Temmu: Important future Emperor between 673-688(?) a.d.c.

7. Toneri: Court attendant: a male attendant of low rank who served the person of the emperor or a prince of the blood. Corporations of commoners who provided these toneri were called toneri-be; probably the toneri of the Patuse-be and of the Kapase, established under Emperor Yuyaki, were examples of the latter. They may have been the same type of coporation as the mi-na-siro.

Chapter Four:

1. Imperial Prince Zenki: Zenki is the first son of the Prince Imperial, who would become Emperor one day. Therefore, Zenki would become Emperor as well, after his father died or refused the throne.

2. Prince Imperial: Zenki's father. He was supposed to become the future Emperor.

Chapter Six:

1. The Land of Yömi: (copy note from Kojiki, page 61, #1). It is regarded as the land of the Dead in Japanese mythology. It was supposed to be down, underworld, as Hades for the Greek and Roman mythology.

Chapter Seven:

1. Po-nö-ikaduti: the Fire-Thunder, which is supposed to have come (into existence) from Izanami's breast when Izanagi went to Yömi to take her back to the surface.

2. Tuti-ikaduti: the Earth-Thunder, which is supposed to have come (into existence) from Izanami's right hand when Izanagi went to Yömi to take her back to the surface.

3. Opo-Kuni-Nusi: earthly deity related to Medicine. He was married to Suseri-Bime, Susa-no-ou's daughter.

4. Suku-na-biko: He was a short god, addressed as "The Famous Little Man". He was the son of the goddess Producer of the Divine and had an immense knowledge of Medicine. He helped Susa-no-ou in developing the land, cultivating useful plants and healing people's diseases.