Ukanomitama (å®Â迦ä¹Â御éÂÂ祠â Mighty Soul of Sustenance - Kojiki) (Ã¥ÂÂ稲éÂÂå½ - Nihongi) is a kami in classical Japanese mythology, associated with food and agriculture, often identified with Inari, the deity of rice.
The Kojiki identifies Ukanomitama (å®Â迦ä¹Â御éÂÂ祠Ukanomitama-no-Kami) as the child of Susanoo by his second wife Kamu-à Âichihime (ç¥Â大å¸Âæ¯Â売), who was a daughter of à Âyamatsumi (大山津è¦Âç¥Â), the god of mountains. This text portrays Ukanomitama as the younger sibling of the harvest deity à Âtoshi-no-Kami.
A variant account recorded in the Nihon Shoki meanwhile portrays Ukanomitama (here referred to as Ã¥ÂÂ稲éÂÂå½ Ukanomitama-no-Mikoto) as an offspring of Izanagi and Izanami who was born when the two became hungry.
The deity's name is understood as being derived from uka no mitama, "august spirit (mitama) of food (uka)". While the above texts are silent regarding the deity's gender, Ukanomitama has long been interpreted to be female, perhaps due to association with other agricultural deities such as Toyouke or Ukemochi.