Kami of the Kojiki
Usagigami
菟神
This is the hare that proposed a counting contest to the wani of the sea, intending to cross the sea by walking across their backs. As it was finishing the crossing, it revealed that it had deceived them, and its skin was stripped off. Following the advice of the eighty kami (Yasogami), it suffered even more, but it is told that Ōnamuji no Kami taught it a way using fresh water and cattail spikes, and it was restored to its former state. The text calls this hare Inaba no Shirousagi, and also Usagigami.
This page introduces the name and the story recorded in the Kojiki.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
Story and genealogy in the Kojiki
This is the hare that proposed a counting contest to the wani of the sea, intending to cross the sea by walking across their backs. As it was finishing the crossing, it revealed that it had deceived them, and its skin was stripped off. Following the advice of the eighty kami (Yasogami), it suffered even more, but it is told that Ōnamuji no Kami taught it a way using fresh water and cattail spikes, and it was restored to its former state. The text calls this hare Inaba no Shirousagi, and also Usagigami.
Source: 國學院大學・青空文庫／武田祐吉校訂・國學院大學
Names and how they are recorded
Another name is Inaba no Shirousagi. It is not asserted that the “wani” of the Kojiki are the crocodiles of today.
Source: 國學院大學
Scenes in the text
Appears in the Kojiki in “The White Hare of Inaba” (first volume). You can trace the relevant passages of the text through the sources below.
Source: 國學院大學・青空文庫／武田祐吉校訂・國學院大學
An example of a chant (in Japanese)
祓え給い、清め給え、神（かむ）ながら守り給い、幸（さきわ）え給え
Sources (in Japanese)
- 國學院大學「古事記ビューアー・神名データベース「菟神」」（2026-10-15 確認）
- 青空文庫／武田祐吉校訂「校註 古事記 〔菟と鰐〕」（2026-10-15 確認）
- 國學院大學「古事記ビューアー 稲羽の素兎」（2026-10-15 確認）