Name
Uga-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto (倉稲魂命)
Also known as: Inari-no-Kami (稲荷神), commonly referred to as Inari
Identity
Uga-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto is a major Shintō deity associated with
food, fertility, rice, and prosperity.
Depending on the shrine and tradition, the deity may be represented as male, female, or androgynous.
Uga-no-Mitama is often understood as one of the principal aspects of Inari-no-Kami.
The name can be interpreted as “the sacred spirit of the rice granary harvest.”
Mythological role
Uga-no-Mitama embodies the vital spirit of rice, a cornerstone of Japanese culture and survival. In many traditions, this deity is invoked to ensure:
successful agricultural harvests,
economic prosperity,
the protection of homes and businesses.
In certain syncretic traditions combining Shintō and Buddhism, Inari is also regarded as a protector of blacksmiths, artisans, merchants, and even warriors.
Famous myth
In the Kojiki (712), Uga-no-Mitama appears as a benevolent spirit of rice, born from Ōgetsu-hime, the goddess of food.
One of the founding legends of Inari worship dates to the year 711, when Inari is said to have manifested on Mount Inari in Kyoto, where sheaves of rice miraculously sprang from the mountain in response to prayer.
The deity is commonly accompanied by white foxes (kitsune), regarded as sacred messengers.
Symbolism
Rice and abundance: a nourishing deity central to Japan’s agricultural identity.
White fox: sacred messenger, often depicted holding a rice-granary key or a magical jewel.
Material success: later revered as a protector of commerce and modern enterprises.
Fluid gender: represented as male, female, or androgynous depending on the shrine.