ŌKAMI 狼

Pronunciation: OH-kah-mee

Translation: Wolf

Also known as: Yamainu (山犬), Oinu-sama (お犬様), Okuriinu (送り犬), Mukaeinu (迎え犬)

Overview

The ōkami (wolf) is the lesser known of the canine yōkai. Similar to its wildly popular cousin the kitsune, there were two species of Japanese wolf that actually existed—the Hokkaido and the Honshu. Sadly, the Hokkaido wolf became extinct in 1889 and the Honshu wolf in 1905. Maybe that’s why you don’t hear about this animal or its majestic yōkai version nearly as much as you do the fox. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t extremely important throughout Japanese history. Both the kitsune and the ōkami commanded respect and fear. According to some, the fox is the messenger of the rice field gods (Inari) and the wolf was the messenger of the mountain gods.

In ancient times, wolves were regarded as guardians because they preyed on boars, deer, and monkeys, which were known to ravage and destroy crops. The wolves’ appetites were sated by these animals, so they rarely attacked humans. This symbiotic relationship lasted for centuries. Until after World War II when Americans introduced strychnine.

There was a related yōkai called the okuriinu (送り犬), meaning “escorting dog” or “sending-off dog.” In old Japan, the word inu (dog) was often used as a synonym for both wolf and fox (you’ll read more about this topic soon as it relates to inugami, meaning “dog god”). These stoic beasts lived in the mountains and watched over travelers, protecting them and guiding them home. Well, unless they collapsed from exhaustion—then they’d get eaten right up. If, though, the wayfarers were only resting, the okuriinu would keep its distance and continue to safeguard their journey. It was still an uneasy experience.

Once the traveler made it home safely, it was custom to turn, bow, say goodbye to the escorting wolf, and thank it properly, maybe by giving it some food or a single tabi straw sandal. After this, the animal would mysteriously disappear back into the forest.

Background and Popular Stories

There are still hundreds of wolf shrines in existence all over Japan. Out of all of them, two are central to wolf lore: the Mitsumine Shrine (三峯神社) founded around 2,000 years ago and located in the mountains of Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture and the Musashi Mitake Shrine (武蔵御嶽神社) on Mount Mitake founded more than 1,200 years ago by Prince Yamato Takeru no Mikoto (Yamato Takeru for short).

The latter shrine’s story goes something like this: Yamato Takeru, the legendary unifier of Japan and the son of the twelfth emperor, was traveling on a military expedition when an evil spirit in the form of a stag appeared, bringing with it a thick mist. The animal then proceeded to lead Yamato Takeru and his group astray. Before they knew it, they were hopelessly lost deep in the mountains. When they looked around, the stag had vanished. Unsure which way to go or what to do, they decided to stop moving altogether. Unexpectedly, just when all was at its bleakest, a white wolf—a god in disguise—appeared to guide them out of the mountains. Yamato Takeru was so grateful and moved by this divine animal’s actions that he told it to remain there on the mountain, fight off evil, and become the Ōguchi no Makami (大口の真神), or True God with the Big Mouth.