Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology (Chikugo, Fukuoka)
Alternate Names: Feathered Dog
Category: Dog, Legendary Animal, Place-Name Spirit
The Myth
The legend of Inu, the Feathered Dog, is said to explain the origin of the place name Hainuzuka (“Feathered Dog Mound”) in Chikugo, Fukuoka.
One tradition tells that in 1587, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi led his campaign to subdue the Shimazu clan in Kyushu, he brought with him a strange and wondrous dog that had wings. The animal was beloved by him and followed his army through the campaign.
While passing through the region of present-day Chikugo, the dog died — either from illness or from being struck by an enemy arrow. Hideyoshi mourned the creature deeply, and a burial mound was raised in its honor. The place where the dog was laid to rest came to be known as the Feathered Dog Mound.
Another version of the tale says that the feathered dog was not Hideyoshi’s companion, but a fearsome and mysterious beast that lived in the region. It was said to attack both humans and animals, causing terror among the villagers. During his Kyushu campaign, Hideyoshi ordered his troops to hunt down and kill the creature. After it was slain, a mound was built to commemorate the powerful beast and its fierce spirit.
To this day, what is believed to be the dog’s tomb remains at Sōgakuji Temple in Hainuzuka, and statues of the winged dog stand in the area as reminders of the old legend.
Gallery
Sources
Tyz-Yokai Blog. (n.d.). Inu. Retrieved March 1, 2026, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1069206594.html
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