Inari

Inari is the Kami of both the fulfillment of wishes and growing rice. Inari has a long history of popularity with commoners and the nobles who controlled the production of the important staple food.

Inari has many forms. When helping farmers, Inari appears as an old man with many sheaves of rice. When helping a noble, Inari appears as a young family man and farmer with knowledge about what their people need. When helping women reproduce, Inari appears as a young mother in the bloom of health. To those to whom Inari brings messages, Inari appears as a magnificent nine-tailed fox Kitsune, or even a beautiful, but simple maiden. While many of the most powerful Kami have chosen a gender, Inari sees gender as just another form or appearance the Kami can take, another tool in Inari’s toolbox to fulfill Inari’s duties.

In modern times, Inari is still the most popular Kami, a position that bolsters the power of the Earthly Kami politically. There are over 32,000 attended shrines dedicated to Inari throughout Japan, a full one-third of all shrines cared for by people, and Inari would easily overwhelm all other Kami shrines combined if Inari’s roadside shrines were counted. Food and family production are still very important today. Inari is sometimes overworked answering all of their prayers. Fortunately, Inari’s foxes are protected in Japan and they and Inari’s Kitsune allies can lend a hand. Inari works in whatever form is most pleasing to the mortals with whom Inari works. Inari often appears as a reproduction specialist, a family planner, or an agricultural engineer. Inari and the foxes try to answer as many prayers to Inari as possible from those who are pure of heart and sincere in their wish.

Scions of Inari often work in the areas that Inari most cares about, as Inari is so busy, Inari drafted their Scions to pick up the slack, and is the most prolific adopter of all the Kami. Inari’s Scions are compassionate and want to help those seeking Inari’s blessings. Inari’s fluid gender also attracts many transgender Scion hopeful adoptees; more help always pleases Inari and they are welcomed as long as they are willing to work.