In the ancient times when the heavens and the earth were still close, and the boundary between the mortal realm and the divine was as thin as a morning mist, the land of Izumo was a place of wild beauty and spiritual potency. This was the age of the Kami, the primordial deities who shaped the mountains, directed the flow of the rivers, and spoke through the rustling of the forest leaves. Among these divine beings lived Ōnamuji-no-kami, a young deity of modest disposition and profound empathy. Although he was a descendant of the powerful storm god Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Ōnamuji did not possess the fiery temperament or the boastful pride that characterized many of his celestial kin. Instead, he moved through the world with a quiet observation, attuned to the subtle rhythms of nature and the silent sufferings of the living things that inhabited the earth.
The land of Izumo, with its rugged coastlines and fertile plains, was also home to Ōnamuji’s eighty brothers, known collectively as the Yasogami. These deities were as numerous as they were arrogant. They spent their days in boisterous competitions, asserting their dominance over the natural world and vying for prestige and power. Unlike Ōnamuji, who sought to understand the delicate balance of the land, the Yasogami viewed the world as a playground for their whims and desires. They mocked their younger brother for his gentle nature, viewing his compassion as a sign of weakness. They forced him to perform menial tasks and treated him more like an outcast servant than a peer of divine blood. Despite their constant mistreatment, Ōnamuji harbored no bitterness. He accepted his burdens with a serene patience, choosing to find solace in the quietude of the forests and the wisdom of the earth.
The simmering rivalry between the Yasogami and Ōnamuji reached a turning point when rumors arrived from the neighboring province of Inaba. It was said that in Inaba lived a princess of incomparable beauty and grace named Yakami. Her presence was like the first light of spring, warming the hearts of all who beheld her, and her wisdom was celebrated far beyond the borders of her homeland. Upon hearing of Princess Yakami, the eighty brothers were seized with a singular, consuming desire: to travel to Inaba, present themselves as suitors, and win her hand in marriage. For the Yasogami, this was not merely a pursuit of love, but a grand competition—a chance to claim the ultimate prize and assert their superiority over one another and the surrounding lands.
Without delay, the eighty deities began to prepare for the long journey. They adorned themselves in their finest garments, polished their weapons until they gleamed like mirrors, and perfumed their robes with the richest scents. They envisioned a grand procession that would awe the people of Inaba and easily conquer the heart of the princess. However, as they prepared to depart, they realized they had no desire to carry the heavy burdens of their provisions, gifts, and travel gear. Turning their arrogant gaze upon Ōnamuji, they ordered him to serve as their porter. They piled their massive bags, heavy chests, and travel bundles onto his shoulders until his back was bent under the immense weight.
"Carry these, little brother," they laughed, their voices echoing off the wooden beams of their ancestral home. "A servant of your stature has no place among princes, but perhaps you can watch from the gates as one of us claims the fair Yakami."
With a heavy heart but an unwavering spirit, Ōnamuji accepted the crushing weight. As the eighty brothers marched ahead, light-footed and laughing, their vibrant banners snapping in the wind, Ōnamuji followed far behind. He trudged through the dusty trails, his sandals wearing thin against the stones, his breathing heavy under the oppressive heat of the sun. The gap between him and his brothers widened with every mile, leaving him alone on the long, winding road to Inaba.
While the Yasogami hurried toward their destination, a dramatic event was unfolding along the rocky shoreline of Cape Keta, located in the province of Inaba. Just off the coast lay the island of Oki, a lonely strip of land surrounded by the churning, unpredictable waters of the Sea of Japan. On this island lived a clever and resourceful white hare. The hare was a creature of quick wit and restless energy, but he felt confined by the narrow shores of Oki. He longed to cross the vast, deep blue sea to the mainland of Inaba, where the forests were vast, the fields were filled with sweet clover, and new adventures awaited.