Long ago, on Japan’s Oki Islands, there lived a clever white rabbit who dreamed of reaching the distant shores of Inaba, a place that is now part of modern-day Tottori Prefecture. However, between him and Inaba lay the vast sea, and he couldn’t swim across such a great distance.
One day, the rabbit noticed a group of whales swimming nearby and quickly came up with a plan. He called out, “Hey whales, let’s play a game to see who has more members, the whales or the rabbits. Line yourselves up across the sea so I can count you.” Amused by the idea, the whales agreed and formed a bridge of their bodies from the Oki Islands all the way to the shore of Inaba.
The rabbit eagerly hopped from one whale’s back to the next, pretending to count but secretly celebrating inside. When he finally reached the last whale and stepped onto dry land, he laughed and shouted, “I didn’t want to count you at all. I only needed a way to get across the sea!”
Realizing they had been tricked, the whales were furious. They lashed out at the rabbit, tearing off his soft fur and leaving him bald and in terrible pain. The rabbit collapsed on the shore, helpless and crying.
Soon after, a group of young men walked by and noticed the suffering rabbit. Instead of helping him, they mocked him cruelly. One of them said, “Why don’t you bathe in the salty sea, dry off in the wind, and then go to sleep? That will probably help.”
Desperate and in pain, the rabbit followed their advice, but it only made things worse. The saltwater stung his raw skin, and the wind dried it out even more. His wounds burned terribly, and he realized the young men had played a cruel joke on him.
Not long after, another young man came walking along the same path. He was the youngest brother of the group and had fallen behind because he was carrying all their luggage. When he saw the rabbit’s suffering, he stopped immediately and gently asked what had happened.
After hearing the full story, the kind young man said, “Saltwater is too harsh for your wounds. Go wash yourself in a fresh river nearby, then roll gently in the soft pollen of the gama plants that grow there. It will soothe your skin and help your fur grow back.”
The rabbit followed the young man’s instructions exactly. He bathed in fresh water, found the pollen, and rolled in it carefully. To his surprise, the pain began to fade, and his soft fur started to return. Overwhelmed with relief, he thanked the young man with all his heart.
According to legend, that kind young man later became one of Japan’s most important deities. He was known as Ōkuninushi-no-Mikoto, the “Great Land Master,” who helped shape the nation of Japan.
The story of the White Rabbit of Inaba is not just a tale of cleverness and pain, but also one of compassion. It reminds us that while trickery brings trouble, true kindness has the power to heal and transform lives.