Introduction
The Octopus is a symbol of wealth in Japan. In fact, the word for “octopus” (inari) sounds similar to the word for “wealth” (inari). Some say there are more than 100 different inari shrines across Japan—and each one has a unique story about how exactly the symbol came to be associated with wealth.
Section: They say that an ancestor of mine was cursed by an angry crab god who wanted revenge on people who had stolen his precious shell. So he transformed into a giant octopus or squid and went on a rampage until everyone else had been exterminated by him, leaving only two humans alive on Earth: myself and my wife at that time—who was still being chased at this point!
Section: This mythological tale is actually part of why all Japanese people fear crabs, though it’s not clear whether they’re afraid because they think it’s bad luck or because they don’t want their homes destroyed by them again like they were when they turned into these gigantic monsters during this warlord’s rampage against humanity!
“They say that money makes the world go round, but in Japan, its octopuses.”
Octopuses are symbols of good fortune and strength. They are also known to be quite smart, with some species able to escape from their aquariums by squeezing through the walls or even climbing up their own arms. Octopuses have been used in Japan for centuries as an auspicious symbol of wealth, power, and prosperity—and not just because they’re so cute!
According to legend (as told by ancient scrolls), a fisherman caught an octopus that was pulling his net into its den; when he cooked it up for dinner that night, he found out why: The creature had given him three wishes. So what did he wish for? Well…
