Konohanasakuya-hime is the goddess of Mount Fuji and all volcanoes in Japanese mythology; she is also the blossom-princess and symbol of delicate earthly life.

[1][2] She is often considered an avatar of Japanese life, especially since her symbol is the sakura (cherry blossom).

Oho-Yama proposed his older daughter, Iwa-Naga-hime, instead, but Ninigi had his heart set on Sakuya-hime.

Because Ninigi refused Iwa-Naga, the rock-princess, human lives are said to be short and fleeting, like the sakura blossoms, instead of enduring and long lasting, like stones.

[6][7] According to an 11th-century legend, a small village in the Suruga Province named Kamiide was struck by smallpox epidemic.

In the village, there lived a young boy named Yosoji and his mother, who was infected by the disease.