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Henge, Yokai

Tanuki the Shapeshifting Yokai with Massive Balls

A bot-bellied raccoon dog wearing a straw hat with sake in hand.

Of all the yokai, tanuki is definitely in the top three most popular yokai across the globe. Second, only to kitsune (狐) the supernatural fox of Japan. The popularity of tanuki significantly increased after Studio Ghibli‘s Pom Poko movie. The movie showed the prowess of the tanuki as shapeshifting yokai with massive balls.

In Japanese folklore, tanuki, kitsune and mujina (貉) are the most common yokai shape-shifting ability. In fact, tanuki is the master at shape-shifting and deception. They can transform into anyone and anything. In one story, a tanuki changed into a shamisen player and then, instantaneously transform into a horse’s ass. That is shape-shifiting skills at its best.

Edo-Period Depictions

In the first volume of Gazu Hyakki Yagyō, Toriyama Sekien illustrates tanuki as a typical racoon dog. The plain creature stands on two feet staring at the moon. By contrast, contemporary depictions show tanuki as a kawaii pot-bellied yokai. One that walks on two legs and pesters Japanese citizens.

Also, many Edo period illustrations show tanuki behaving as fishermen, farmers or merchants. They fish, smoke and even participate in a matsuri. They transform into faceless man to prank village folks. However, these pranks are nothing compared to tanuki‘s massive balls.

Gold Sacks

Interestingly, many Edo period artworks show tanuki with large scrotums. As illustrated, tanuki use their malleable scrotum as sails for boats and nets for fishing. Furthermore, tanuki are renown for using their nutsacks as parachutes. In contrast, the myths and legends hardly talk about the large scrotum. In fact, only modern stories embellish tanuki‘s prowess.

Moreover, testicles are known as kintama (金玉), literally golden balls in Japan. This links back to past metallurgists who use real tanuki scrotum to make gold leaves. In fact, workers hammer thin gold sheets between scrotum skins. In fact, tanuki skin can to stretch without breaking. Some say it can stretch 8 tatami wide (about 13 square meter).

Conclusion

Nonetheless, this is far from sufficient to show the tanuki influence. In the future, we will discuss many more yokai that fall under the tanuki category. At this point, appreciate the many wonders of this shapeshifting yokai. A creature found in many Japanese myths and legends. And lastly, a yokai with mystifyingly massive balls.

Yokai Details

name: tanuki ( tah-nu-key )
kanji: 狸 (たぬき)
meaning: racoon dog
aka: タヌキ, 化け狸
abilities:
1. shapeshifting — change its form to impersonate others
2. voice manipulation — change their voice to fit their disguise
3. inanimate morphing — transform itself or parts of itself into inanimate objects like drums,weapons and umbrellas
4. scrotum enlargement — able to enlarge its testicles to various sizes

Henge, Yokai

Shirime, Nothing Butt an Eye

Japan has countless stories with weird and peculiar yokai. But, nothing is stranger in its simplicity than this one. Shirime is nothing butt an eye (puns intended). This faceless yokai is made famous by the creator of GeGeGe no Kitaro, Mizuki Shigeru (水木しげる).

As the legend goes, a samurai was returning late one night. Suddenly, a man wearing a kimono blocked the warrior’s path. Alerted, the fearless samurai shouted at the strange man. “What do you want?”

Unexpectedly, the silent man stripped off his kimono and bent over. Delberately, he raised his butt towards the samurai. Then, a huge eyeball peeped out of the anus. From that same rear, a bizarre light radiated. Horrified, the samurai screamed and fled in fright.

Only Known Source

Shirime is only mentioned in one ancient source, “Buson’s Yokai Picture Scroll” (蕪村妖怪絵巻). Yosa Buson (与謝蕪村), painted the yokai with a brief description “the bald nopperabo of Kyoto’s Katabiragatsuji”. In turn, this ties to the illustrated Katabiragatsuji (帷子辻) in Ehon Hyaku Monogatari (絵本百物語) by Tosanjin Yawa.

Based on this source, many experts believe that shirime is a form of nopperabo, the faceless yokai. On the other hand, they could be shape-changing creatures such as the mujina, kitsune or tanuki. All of which loves to play mischievous pranks on the locals, as much as kijimuna. Nonetheless, shirime is nothing butt an eye.

Final thoughts

Personally, shirime deserves to be in a class of its own. From his voyeuristic nature to his cheeky behaviour (more puns intended), he is one to behold. Shirime is a testament to Japan’s affinity to the weird and bizarre. Although, if you do travel to Kyoto, keep an eye out for it (last one, I promise).

Yokai Details

name: shirime ( she-ree-meh )
kanji: 尻目 ( しりめ )
meaning: buttocks’ eye
abilities:
1. light generation — create photons of light
2. fear projection — cause fear and/or terror on an individual

Henge, Kaibyo, Yokai

True Origin Of Catgirls, Neko-musume

Female characters with feline features are lovingly called nekomimi. They are a common part of the Japanese pop culture especially among otaku and cosplayers. But only a handful of them know the origins of catgirls originate and its relationship to another feline yokai, Neko-musume.

Neko-musume is a type of kaibyo that is quite different from the other cat-yokai counterparts such as the nekomata and bakeneko. She is usually described as a young girl with cat ears, and sometimes a feline tail.

Early documents about the neko-musume can be traced back to the misemono (見世物) of the 1700s. A Japanese sideshow carnival full of curiosities and oddities, mostly fakes and forgeries made by worksmiths. Around 1769, there is a show, in Asakusa district of Edo, that became very popular because it had a cat-girl as one of its exhibitor. Many who went and saw, swore that she was a genuine yokai with real feline features.

Human Connections

There are also many stories from the Edo period, of neko-musume that are of human parentage. They live with their parents and some even go to school. Neko-musume enjoy hunting for mice and rats, as such, she is seen as a benefit to the village and society.

So the next time you see a girl with cat ears, walking along the streets, maybe she’s not a cosplayer. Maybe, she’s a real yokai who can help you catch rodents and maybe even be a life-time companion.

Yokai Details

name: neko-musume (neh-koh-moo-soo-meh)
kanji: 猫娘 (ねこむすめ )
meaning: cat girl or daughter of cats
abilities
1. hyper senses — possess acute sense of smell and hearing
2. super agility — a very good sense of balance and body coordination
3. high metabolism — able to heal quickly from minor ailments and injuries

Henge, Kaibyo, Yokai

Local Cat Is Obsessed With Funeral Wakes

Have you ever been to a funeral wake and noticed the local cat slumbering nearby?And that same cat is seen near hospitals and cemeteries? You might have just met a supernatural kaibyo that loves the dying and the dead. Look carefully and you might just see that its two fiery tails.

Nekomata belongs to a group of yokai known as the kaibyo (怪猫), literally meaning strange cats. They are cat-like creatures such as bakeneko and neko-musume. Although, the nekomata has been documented in Kamakura-period manuscripts, centuries before other kaibyo.

Appearance

Kamakura nekomata are described as ferocious cat-like creatures that lived in the mountainous forests. Their size varies from a large dog to one big enough to carry a small child easily in its mouth. These nekomata have been known to attack and, even, hunt human.

There are many stories of feudal heroes saving villages who were under siege by laying these savage creatures. Some kaidan collections demonstrated the supernatural properties of the nekomata in its ability to shapeshift into human form and, even, fool the villagers.

Modern Ways

Unlike the aggressive nekomata of old, the contemporary version is more domesticated but not less magical. The “tame” nekomata is romanticized by Edo artists who drew them in flamboyant clothes and playing musical instruments such as the shamisen.

Such embellished portrayals have led many to mistake a bakeneko for a nekomata. Edo-period manuscripts described both to have evolved from an old and wizened cat . But, notably, one that evolved after it’s tail split into two is the nekomata. That is the chief distinction.

During the Edo period, the nekomata gains the power of necromancy, the ability to raise and control the dead. The same ability is described in another kaibyo called the kasha. Again, the one with two flaming tails is the nekomata. It is said to breathe the soul of the dying, or recently dead, as nourishment.

Conclusion

So next time you are in Japan and you see a cat by the road or on a wall. Before you go to pat the cat, please look around. Check if there is a cemetery behind the wall. See if it has two tails instead or one. Or just leave the cat be and you get live for another day.

Yokai Details

name: nekomata (neh-koh-mah-tah)
kanji: 猫又、猫股 (ねこまた)
meaning: cat again or forked cat
abilities:
1. metamorph — change into human form
2. sickness — cause an individual to get nekomata disease
3. super agility — able to effortlessly dodge any attacks
4. hyper senses — possess acute sense of smell and hearing
5. necromancy — able to raise the dead

Henge, Kaibyo, Yokai

Cat Caught Wearing Owner’s Panties!

You have no idea how many times I’ve heard (or even seen) of stories where cats have human-like behaviours, such as playing the piano and standing on their hind legs. Just type “cats” in your YouTube search and you’ll see thousands of videos about these human performances.

But what interests me is a story from Tokyo about a high schooler who claims to have caught her calico cat prancing about, wearing her blue-striped panties with a towel on its head. It is unmistakable that the feline is no ordinary cat. It is a yokai locally known as the Bakeneko.

Supernatural Creatures

Cats are naturally supernatural creatures. Did you not notice how they are always watching us and acting cute? They are quietly learning how to be less feline and more human. Cats, that age beyond its lifespan of 12-13 years, have been known evolve into a bakeneko. Once evolved, they gain preternatural powers such as bewitching and shape-shifting.

Inititally, they can morph into human form with feline features such as facial fur and whiskers for an hour or so. But over time, these uncanny powers grow stronger and lasts longer. Malevolent bakeneko has been documented to replace their owners permanently! Haven’t you wondered why that cat lady looks so much like her cats?

Forgotten Tales

I’ve read old stories of a great and ancient bakeneko that had lived in a family for many generations. When its true identity was discovered, it increased its size to that of a house and went on a rampage. It killed the whole household and everyone else in the village. It was finally brought down by the feudal lord’s retinue of samurai.

So, how do you know that the cat that is watching you now is not a bakeneko? The telltale, bakeneko has exceptionally long tail. Long ago, a grandmotherly figure told me, “The longer the tail, the older the bakeneko, the stronger its power.” Now, that you mention this, that wise woman does have a feline grace to her.

Yokai Details

name: bakeneko (bah-keh-neh-koh)
kanji: 化け猫 (ばけねこ)
meaning: changing cat or transforming cat
abilities:
1. metamorph — shape-shift into any human of any age
2. mass alteration — change its mass and size at will
3. tactile hypnosis — change the perception of anyone it touches
4. super agility — able to effortlessly dodge any attacks
5. hyper senses — possess acute sense of smell and hearing
6. longevity — able to prolong its natural lifespan