Though its origin is unclear, worship of Inari, the Shinto god of rice and prosperity, dates to at least the 8th century BCE. Today, shrines to Inari are among the most numerous in Japan. Throughout history, Inari has been variously depicted as a woman with long hair carrying sheaves of rice or as a bearded old man riding a fox, which is sometimes identified as his messenger. As an offering to the fox statues at Inari’s shrines, worshippers leave a dish known as Inari-zushi. What is it? Discuss