Religion:Ashihara no Nakatsukuni

Perhaps the term was considered appropriate to describe Japan because the land was damp and covered with reeds (ashi) in ancient times. The meaning of naka (middle) in the word nakatsukuni is based upon the world view of ancient peoples, where nakatsukuni indicates the real world or country between Takamagahara in the heavens and Yomi no kuni in the netherworld.