Hare of Inaba

The Hare of Inaba: A Trickster’s Tale

The Hare of Inaba (因幡の白兎, Inaba no Shirousagi) is a legendary figure from Japanese mythology, rooted in the ancient province of Inaba—now part of Tottori Prefecture. This tale is a key part of the Izumo mythological tradition and plays a crucial role in the legend of the Shinto god Ōnamuchi-no-kami—later known as Ōkuninushi.

The hare in the story is believed to be the Japanese hare (Lepus brachyurus), specifically the Oki Islands subspecies (Lepus brachyurus okiensis). Unlike its European counterpart, the Japanese hare is much smaller, measuring 43–54 cm (17–21 in) in length. While typically brown, hares in colder regions—like Inaba—turn white during winter, adding a mystical element to the legend.

The Kojiki Version: A Trick Gone Wrong
One of the most famous versions of this tale appears in the Kojiki (711–712 AD), Japan’s oldest historical chronicle. It is found in the “Volume of the Age of the Gods” (Jindai no Maki), which recounts Japan’s mythical origins before the reign of Emperor Jimmu.

In this version, the Hare of Inaba plays the role of a cunning trickster. Stranded on the Oki Islands, the hare devises a clever plan to cross the sea. He approaches a group of wanizame (often interpreted as sharks or crocodiles) and challenges them:

“Let’s see whose clan is greater—yours or mine?”

The sharks, eager to prove their strength, form a living bridge across the waves. The hare hops across their backs, counting aloud as he goes. However, just before reaching the shore, he foolishly reveals his trick—mocking the sharks for being deceived. Enraged, the last shark lunges at him, tearing off his soft fur, leaving him raw and in agony.