The Rice Dog

# The Legend of O Kome no Inu (お米の犬)---Long ago, deep in the mountains of Japan, there was a mystical yōkai known as **O Kome no Inu**, or _"The Rice Dog."_ This yōkai appeared as a large, friendly dog with fur as white as snow. It wore a traditional rice farmer's hat, giving it a comical, somewhat absent-minded appearance. Despite being a bit ditzy, O Kome no Inu was beloved by the villagers for the prosperity it brought.---O Kome no Inu would descend from the mountains each night, wandering aimlessly through the rice fields. The villagers would smile fondly as they noticed the dog tripping over stalks of rice or getting its hat askew. But wherever O Kome no Inu roamed, bountiful crops followed. The yōkai was always seen with a slight tilt to its hat, which would sometimes fall over its eyes, causing it to walk in circles.---Although the Rice Dog was a bit clumsy, its presence was a sign of good fortune. Wherever it passed, the rice would grow tall and plentiful. The villa