He is the brother and husband of Izanami, with whom he created the islands of Japan by dipping a spear into the ocean.
Izanami died in childbirth, and refused to return with Izanagi when he tried to retrieve her from the underworld. After his return he created cleansing rites, creating Amaterasu, the sun goddess, by cleaning his left eye, creating Tsuki-Yumi, the moon goddess, from his right eye, and creating Susanowo, the sea goddess, from his nose.