#escorting dog

#JLMyōkaioftheday : Okuri-inu or the “escorting dog”  

Okuri-inu is a dog-type yōkai that sometimes follows or “escorts” people traveling alone at night. It protects travelers by scaring away other creatures that may harm the person. 

However, the okuri-inu will attack and eat the traveler of they trip/stumble or hesitate anytime during the journey. 

The trick is to pretend that you’re resting when you stumble, in which the okuri-inu will patiently wait for you to get up and continue walking again. It is said that in some parts of Japan, it is customary to say “thanks for guiding me” out loud when you eventually reach your destination, and the okuri-inu will bow and disappear. #japanloverme#heprotecbuthealsoattac Artwork by @littlemisspaintbrush