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Background

The Kamui and Wagtail Genesis creation myth comes from the Ainu (アイヌ) people of northern Japan (Hokkaidō). In this myth, Kamui is the supreme deity associated with creation and the Wagtail is a small bird that assisted. According to David Leeming, Kamui lived in an iron-gated abode whereby he built the world on a fish. Kamui sent the Wagtail, a small bird, to make it habitable.^[1] The confused bird fluttered and beat its feet on the ground in order to make dry places for people. This island that was created was where, according to Ainu legend, where the people first lived.

"In the beginning there was a mixture
of mud and water in what would become
the world; no living things existed. The
gods and demons and animals lived in
a series of heavens above and worlds
below our world. In the highest heaven
there was the creator god Kamui. His
compound was protected by an immense
wall with an iron gate. Kamui decided to
build the world on the back of a huge fish
that took in the waters and blew them out
to create the ocean tides. The creator sent
a small bird, a wagtail, to make Earth
habitable. Confused, the bird flew down
and fluttered about and beat its wings at
the mushy surface until a few dry spots
emerged, forming the islands where the
Ainu live now." ^[2]

It may be observed that there are other traditions that hold different creation myths as well.