"I'm the Hare of Inaba. A long time ago, I tricked a shark, and got beat up real bad. It just goes to show, lying isn't good for you. But in the human world... there are lies everywhere now. Do all humans go around every day trying to trick each other? That's dumb! I think humans should get beat up like I did."
—Hare of Inaba, Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
The Hare of Inaba (因幡の白兎 or 稲葉の白兎, Inaba no Shiro Usagi)?, is a rabbit who wants to see Princess Yakami (八上比売) of Inaba, so it makes a wager with a shark to see whose family is more numerous, the shark or the rabbit. The rabbit uses the sharks that lined up to cross the other shore, but the sharks tear off its skin when the rabbit revealed that they tricked them to cross the body of water he wanted to cross, barely making it ashore because of its premature celebration.
The rabbit was chanced upon by some Kunitsukami who then tell the rabbit to wash its body in salt water, but the pain only makes it worse. Okuninushi, who was lagging behind his plentiful brothers (Yasogami) to propose to Yakami, took pity on the poor creature, and restores the rabbit's skin by having it wash in fresh water and cover itself with reeds.
"Known in Japanese as "Inaba no Shirousagi," it is a smart rabbit written of in the Kojiki, worshipped as a hare god. Wanting to cross the sea from Oki Island to the mainland, he had sharks line up in a row and crossed, pretending to help count them. But when he crossed and revealed that he was just using them, the sharks skinned him. He was healed by a passing god."
—Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey compendium
The Hare of Inaba appears as the highest leveled demon of the UMA Race. He is also found in Sector Fornax, enveloped in Alice's fantasy, and desperately trying to escape from her, mistaken for the White Rabbit of Wonderland. He is pursued by the protagonist at Alice's behest; upon being cornered, Alice will first try to skin him, then douse him in saltwater and finally devour him (in a reference to the Hare's original legend); the protagonist can stop her at any moment to trigger the battle against her. Even if he leaves the Hare at Alice's mercies, she will engage in battle once she's done with the Hare.
Later, the Hare, fully restored, comments she's not even the real Alice, but a memory of the original, a girl beloved by demons who was maddened by the great powers she inherited from them. Should the protagonist stop Alice before she can hurt the Hare at all, it will hand over a Bead Chain in gratitude after her defeat.
Shin Megami Tensei IV[]
Hare of Inaba is summoned by Hiro Jingu in the third round of the "Hunter Tournament Finals" Challenge Quest. It can later be found as a normal enemy in Ginza. The Hare of Inaba can teach Flynn the Mediarama, Sukukaja and Trafuri skills through its Demon Whisper. It can later be encountered in the initial areas of Blasted Tokyo as well.
Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse[]
Hare of Inaba can be found in Shibuya in the Miyashita Park area. It can teach the Diarama, Sukukaja, Trafuri, Media and Recarm skills through its Demon Whisper. Hare of Inaba benefits from learning healing and support skills.
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers[]
"Known in Japanese as "Inaba no Shirousagi," it is a smart rabbit written of in the Kojiki, worshiped as a hare god. Wanting to cross the sea from Oki Island to the mainland, he had sharks line up in a row and crossed, under the guise of helping to count them. Once he crossed and revealed that he was just using them as a bridge, the sharks skinned him. He was healed by a passing god."
—Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers 3DS compendium
The Hare of Inaba is the highest level UMA demon. He is distinctly characterized by having a tremendous power boost during a full moon, but is weakened in every other lunar phase.
Soul Hackers 2[]
"Known in Japanese are "Inaba no Shirousagi," this clever rabbit, written about in the Kojiki, is worshiped as a hare god. Wanting to cross the sea from Oki Island to the mainland, he tricked a multitude of sharks into lining up and forming a makeshift bridge by challenging them to see which of the sharks' clans was larger. Upon safe passage, he revealed his plot to the sharks, only to be captured and skinned by them soon after. He was, however, later healed by a passing god."
—Soul Hackers 2 demon info
Hare of Inaba is Saizo's initial demon loaded into his COMP. It can be found as a normal enemy in the Soul Matrix in Arrow Sect or 1F.
Persona 4[]
While not physically appearing in Persona 4, the rural town Inaba was named after the legend of the Hare of Inaba.
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth[]
"Known in Japanese as "Inaba no Shirousagi," it is a smart rabbit written of in the Kojiki, worshipped as a hare god."
—Persona Q2 explanation
The Hare of Inaba is a Physical sub-Persona of the Moon Arcana and is unlocked for special fusion after obtaining the Plentiful Wheat key item after defeating Chicken Kid during the "Meat & The Art of Friendship" special screening. In order to fuse the Hare of Inaba, the party will need Oukuninushi and Nigi Mitama.
Devil Survivor 2[]
"Known in Japanese as "Inaba no Shirousagi," it is a smart rabbit written of in the Kojiki, worshipped as a hare god. Wanting to cross the sea from Oki Island to the mainland, he had sharks line up in a row and crossed, pretending to help count them. But when he crossed and revealed that he was just using them, the sharks skinned him. He was healed by a passing god."
—Devil Survivor 2 compendium
Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2[]
"Known in Japanese as "Inaba no Shirousagi", it is a smart rabbit written of in old tales, worshiped as a hare god. Wanting to cross the sea from Oki island to the mainland, he had sharks line up in a row and crossed, pretending to help count them. But when he crossed and revealed that he was just using them, the sharks skinned him. Later he learned the arts of healing from the deity Ókuninushi, and cured himself."
