The One Who Was Not Afraid

Japanese mythology introduces Ame-no-Uzume as the kami the others send when a situation cannot be solved by authority. She is associated with performance — dance, trance, the sacred foolery shrine ritual still uses — and the chronicles reach for her twice, both times when something must be faced that nobody else will face. The Kojiki describes her as strong-faced, which in context means she does not flinch. Her role in the mythology is a willingness to do the undignified thing that works.