Illustrations by Kureha Rokuro ( 呉羽麓郎 ) for The Gods of Japan (Nihon no Kamisama, 日本の神さま), published 1943. This short post comes from another dive into the National Diet Library.
Much thanks to Colin Peters for identification/translation help."A white rabbit crossed the ocean from Kino Island to the mainland at Inaba by using the backs of sharks as stepping stones and thus appeared to be running over the tops of the waves. This story became the theme of a Noh song that translates roughly, 'While the moon floats over the ocean, a rabbit runs over the waves—what interesting island scenery.'" [quote via Virtual Artifacts]
This post first appeared on March 20, 2014 on 50 Watts