The White Rabbit of Inaba

Long ago, on Japan’s Oki Islands, lived a clever white rabbit who dreamed of reaching the distant shores of Inaba—now part of modern-day Tottori Prefecture. But between him and Inaba lay the sea, and he couldn’t swim that far.

A Rabbit’s Clever Trick

One day, the rabbit saw a group of whales swimming nearby. Thinking fast, he called out, “Hey whales, let’s play a game to see who has more members—whales or rabbits. Line up across the sea so I can count you!” Amused by the idea, the whales agreed and formed a living bridge from Oki to Inaba.

The rabbit hopped from back to back, laughing inside. When he reached the final whale and stepped onto land, he couldn’t help but boast: “I didn’t really want to count you—I just needed a way to cross the sea!”

Furious at being tricked, the whales attacked the rabbit. They tore off all his fur, leaving him bald and in terrible pain.

Mocked and Misled

The rabbit lay by the shore, crying in agony. A group of young men passed by and mocked him. “Why don’t you bathe in the salty sea, dry yourself in the wind, and then sleep? That should help,” they sneered before walking away.

Desperate, the rabbit followed their advice—but the saltwater and wind only made his wounds worse. He cried louder than before, realizing he’d been fooled again.

A Kind Heart Changes Everything

Soon after, another young man came along. He was the youngest brother of the cruel group and had fallen behind because he was carrying all their luggage. When he saw the rabbit’s pain, he stopped and gently asked what had happened.

After listening to the whole story, the kind young man said, “You shouldn’t use saltwater. Go wash in a fresh river, then roll in soft gama pollen from nearby plants. It will soothe your skin.”

The rabbit did exactly that—and to his amazement, the pain faded. His fur began to grow back, and he felt whole again. Overjoyed, he thanked the young man with all his heart.

From Compassion to Greatness

According to legend, the compassionate young man later became one of Japan’s most important deities: Ōkuninushi-no-Mikoto—the “Great Land Master” who helped shape the nation of Japan.