Amaterasu declared that the Central Land of Reed Plains (the earthly realm) was for her own child to rule, and sent envoy after envoy. But every one of them went over to Okuninushi and never came back. The last to be sent were Takemikazuchi, god of martial valor, and the god Ame-no-Torifune.
The two came down on the little beach of Inasa in Izumo, drew their ten-span sword, stood it point up in the crest of a wave, and sat cross-legged on its tip. Then they asked Okuninushi: "This land is for the child of Amaterasu to rule. What is your mind?"
Okuninushi answered, "I cannot say. My son Kotoshironushi will reply." Kotoshironushi was summoned and said, "With all respect, let this land be offered up." He stamped on the boat he was riding until it tipped over, turned it into a hedge of green branches, and hid inside.
Another son, Takeminakata, came carrying on his fingertips a boulder that would take a thousand men to move, and challenged them: "Let us test our strength." But when he seized Takemikazuchi's hand, it turned at once into a pillar of ice and then into a sword blade. When Takemikazuchi seized his hand in turn, he crushed it like a young reed and flung him away. Takeminakata fled as far as the sea of Suwa (Lake Suwa) in the land of Shinano and begged for his life, swearing never to leave that place.
At last Okuninushi agreed to give up the land. His condition was that he be worshipped in a magnificent palace with thick pillars set on the bedrock and roof-beams rising high enough to reach heaven. This is said to be the origin of the great shrine of Izumo.