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I would like to introduce some background information on Japanese culture for non-Japanese readers to deepen their understanding of the story when reading "Kamisama Kiss".
Today's topic is "the Hare of Inaba" (Inaba no Shirousagi).
Why do rabbits appear at Izumo Taisha (Izumo Grand Shrine)?
It is based on the Japanese myth, "the Hare of Inaba" (Inaba no Shirousagi).
To sum up, while Okuninushi was going to Inaba, he met a hare who was naked and suffering, and he treated and helped the hare.
In Japanese mythology, there are some Kami whose Shinshi are rabbits.
The first Kami I can think of is Okuninushi with "the Hare of Inaba" (Inaba no Shirousagi).
The kami of the moon, Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, is also with a rabbit.
There are also some shrines where the rabbit itself is enshrined as a Kami.
Hakuto Shrine in Tottori Prefecture enshrines the white rabbit as Kami that appears in "Inaba's white hare".
There are also shrines where the rabbit itself is enshrined as a Kami in Japan.
Hakuto Shrine in Tottori Prefecture enshrines the Hakuto (white rabbit) Kami that appears in "the hare of Inaba". The virtues of the White Rabbit Kami are medical, veterinary, and "Enmusubi" (bonding love and relationships of all kinds (business partners, friendships, etc)).
These are based on the description in Kojiki. Kojiki ("Records of Ancient Matters") is an early Japanese chronicle of myths, legends and semi-historical accounts concerning the origin of the Japanese archipelago, the kami, and the Japanese imperial line.
Who is the rabbit fortune-teller (Vol. 11, #65 and 66)?
In this story, Tomoe and Nanami sometimes meet rabbits.
The first was when Nanami joined "Kamuhakari" at Izumo Taisha Shrine in November. The reason why Izumo Taisha has rabbits is as described above.
The second was the youkai market they walked at the end of the year. Nanami and Tomoe each met a rabbit fortune-teller (Vol. 11, #65).
Considering the role that rabbits play in Japanese mythology, I imagine that this rabbit was also a messenger of Kami or Kami itself. This rabbit fortune teller provides Tomoe with an important message.
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| Kamisama Kiss Vol. 11, #66 |
"That young miss is a Tochigami. And she's stronger than you think." "I've been in this business for many years...so I can see the true quality of things." (Vol. 11, #66)
