The Okuri-inu ( 送り犬 ) (literally, 'escorting dog') is a kind of yōkai . There are stories of the okuri-inu from the Tōhoku region to Kyushu , but depending on the area it can be a wolf not a dog, and there are numerous differences in its behaviour. It is sometimes also called simply the 'yama-inu' ( 山犬 ) (wild dog, wolf) or the 'ōkami' ( 狼 (wolf).
17-397: The okuri-inu closely follows people who are walking along mountain paths at nighttime. If by chance the person falls over they will be immediately eaten up, but if they pretend to be having a short rest they will not be attacked. It is important not to look too tired, though. These features are common to every region, but the dog's behaviour does sometimes vary – for instance in some places it
34-644: A mountain path and gave birth there and then. Night fell, and many okuri-inu gathered around. Terrified, the woman said "If you're going to eat us then eat us!", but rather than attacking, they actually protected the mother and child from the wolves that lurked in the mountain. The husband was reunited with his wife and child, and fed the okuri-inu red rice, which is reserved for auspicious occasions. The book also says that in Koumi , yama-inu (see above) are classified either as okuri-inu or mukae-inu ( 迎え犬 ; literally, 'welcoming dog'), with okuri-inu being said to protect people like
51-482: A safe journey home, then offer the okuri-inu some kind of gift. After this, it will supposedly leave. Koyama Masao's Chiisagata-gun mindanshū ( 小県郡民譚集 ; literally, 'Collection of folk stories from Chiisagata District '), a book published in the early Shōwa period , contains accounts of okuri-inu. It describes a woman from Shioda (now Ueda ) who, leaving her husband at home, went to her parents' house to give birth to her child. On her way there, she went into labour on
68-499: Is 53/km (140/sq mi). This includes all continental and island land area, including Antarctica . However, if Antarctica is excluded, then population density rises to over 58 per square kilometre (150/sq mi). The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has developed a suite of (open and free) data and tools named the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) to improve the science for policy support to
85-562: Is a district located in Nagano Prefecture , Japan . As of February 1, 2006, the district has an estimated population of 12,039 with a density of 49.94 persons per km . The total area is now down to 241.04 km . The district consists of one town and one village: 36°18′50″N 138°04′58″E / 36.313762°N 138.082867°E / 36.313762; 138.082867 Population density Population density (in agriculture : standing stock or plant density )
102-450: Is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans , but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term. Population density is population divided by total land area , sometimes including seas and oceans, as appropriate. Low densities may cause an extinction vortex and further reduce fertility. This is called the Allee effect after
119-482: Is actually the Japanese wolf, and that tales of strange goings on or protecting people are merely convenient interpretations of the Japanese wolf's nature and traits. The Japanese expression 'okuri-ōkami', which refers to people who gain a person's good will whilst harbouring bad intentions, or a man who follows a woman, originates from these legends. Chiisagata District Chiisagata ( 小県郡 , Chiisagata-gun )
136-499: Is around 8,000,000,000 and the Earth 's total area (including land and water) is 510,000,000 km (200,000,000 sq mi). Therefore, the worldwide human population density is approximately 8,000,000,000 ÷ 510,000,000 = 16/km (41/sq mi). However, if only the Earth's land area of 150,000,000 km (58,000,000 sq mi) is taken into account, then human population density
153-502: Is said that the okuri-inu will charge into you, and if you fall a pack of dogs will quickly appear and attack you. There are also regions that have stories about what happens once you safely make it to the end of the mountain path. For example, one tells that if you reach the end of the trail, saying something like 'goodbye' or 'thank you for escorting me' will cause the okuri-inu to stop following you. Another one claims that upon returning home you should first wash your feet, give thanks for
170-631: The European Commission Directorate Generals and Services and as support to the United Nations system. Several of the most densely populated territories in the world are city-states , microstates and urban dependencies . In fact, 95% of the world's population is concentrated on just 10% of the world's land. These territories have a relatively small area and a high urbanization level, with an economically specialized city population drawing also on rural resources outside
187-559: The Honchō shokkan ( 本朝食鑑 ; literally, 'A record of Japanese food'), if you beg for your life without fighting back, the okuri-ōkami will save you from harm from the beasts in the mountain. The Wakan Sansai Zue ' s entry on the wolf states that as the okuri-ōkami will jump many times over the heads of those travelling on mountain trails at night, it will not do any harm provided you are not afraid and do not resist. However, it will eat those who become scared and fall down. Also, they will flee at
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#1733085429235204-988: The area, illustrating the difference between high population density and overpopulation . Deserts have very limited potential for growing crops as there is not enough rain to support them. Thus, their population density is generally low. However, some cities in the Middle East, such as Dubai , have been increasing in population and infrastructure growth at a fast pace. Cities with high population densities are, by some, considered to be overpopulated, though this will depend on factors like quality of housing and infrastructure and access to resources. Very densely populated cities are mostly in Asia (particularly Southeast Asia ); Africa's Lagos , Kinshasa , and Cairo ; South America's Bogotá , Lima , and São Paulo ; and Mexico City and Saint Petersburg also fall into this category. City population and especially area are, however, heavily dependent on
221-533: The case from Shioda, and mukae-inu attacking people. From the Kantō region to the Kinki region , along with Kōchi Prefecture , there are legends of okuri-ōkami ( 送り狼 ; literally, 'sending off wolf'). Like the okuri-inu, they are feared as a yōkai that stalk you on mountain roads and passes that are said to eat its victims when they fall over, but can actually protect people from danger if they are treated correctly. According to
238-547: The definition of "urban area" used: densities are almost invariably higher for the center only than when suburban settlements and intervening rural areas are included, as in the agglomeration or metropolitan area (the latter sometimes including neighboring cities). In comparison, based on a world population of 8 billion, the world's inhabitants, if conceptualized as a loose crowd occupying just under 1 m (10 sq ft) per person (cf. Jacobs Method ), would occupy an area of 8,000 square kilometres (3,100 sq mi)
255-450: The okuri-itachi ( 送り鼬 ; literally, 'sending off weasel'), said to be a friend of the okuri-inu. Also a yōkai that follow travellers at night, if you throw a sandal at it, it will supposedly catch it and go away. Furthermore, it is said that the Japanese wolf had a trait of following humans in order to monitor them. Yōkai investigator Kenji Murakami, too, has hypothesised that the okuri-ōkami
272-443: The scientist who identified it. Examples of the causes of reduced fertility in low population densities are: Population density is the number of people per unit of area, usually transcribed as "per square kilometer" or square mile, and which may include or exclude, for example, areas of water or glaciers. Commonly this is calculated for a county , city , country , another territory or the entire world . The world's population
289-469: The smell of a burning fuse, so people travelling in the country should carry one at all times. As well as that, it says that doing something like speaking to the okuri-ōkami or casually smoking tobacco will cause it to escort you home without attacking you. Giving it its favourite food or a single sandal as thanks will then satisfy it and it will leave. In places like the Izu peninsula and Toda , there are tales of
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