Japanese anime is popular around the world. One of the reasons is the creativity in the stories. From Attack on Titan to Demon Slayer, the stories are often unforgiving to the characters and full of all sorts of unimaginable creatures. But, the truth of it is, that Japanese mythology has a long history in Japan. From reimaginings of real creatures to horror stories and Gods, let’s have a look into some of these tales. 

Namazu, the harbinger of destruction

After the Great Earthquake of 1855 around Edo (today’s Tokyo), the idea that giant catfish, called Namazu in Japanese, were swimming inside the earth causing earthquakes started circling. Colour wood prints called namazu-e soon started being released and that’s when the idea really took off. People would buy the namazu-e and put them on their roofs to protect their houses from earthquakes. How did these giant catfish even get to the centre of the earth? 

Well, the God of thunder and swords, Takemikazuchi, restrains the catfish with the kaname-ishi, a keystone. Apparently, earthquakes are caused whenever the guard’s hand slips, allowing Namazu to thrash about. It’s not always a bad thing, while the majority of people feared catfish for some time, the working class came to worship the image of Namazu because the Namazu brought about more equality between rich and poor. See, while they caused a lot of damage, the working class were the ones to repair it.

Namazu has made its way into pop culture too. There’s a catfish-inspired Pokemon called Whiscash, but in Japanese, it’s called Namazun. On November 4th 2004 an episode featuring Namazun was supposed to air but after a huge earthquake occurred in Niigata during October, they decided to skip the airing. In the Legend of Zelda; A Link to the Past a catfish gives Link the Quake Medallion. 

Konohanasakuya-hime, the fiery goddess

Konohanasakuya-hime is a goddess of many things with many names. From now on, let’s call her Sakuya-hime, but you can also call her Sengen or Asama no Okami. She’s a blossom princess (Which is actually in the name) and a symbol of delicate earthly life. What does this mean? Well, the sakura is, to many people, a symbol of how fleeting life is as the blossoms bloom and fall within a span of two weeks. 

春の夜は Haru no yo wa This spring night

桜に明けて Sakura ni akete Ending with dawn

しまひけり shimahikeri (shimahikeri) And cherry blossoms

 -Matsuo Basho

She’s also the goddess of all volcanoes, including Mount  Fuji, and easy childbirth. There are a few stories here. One is that Sakuya-hime prevents Mount Fuji from erupting. Another is that she tore down the Yatsugatake Mountain range because it was higher than Mt Fuji. And another goes that in the 11th century, she saved the small population of Kamiide in Suruga prefecture (nowadays Shizuoka) from smallpox.

As the legend goes, a man was told by a fortune teller that the people of the town, including his own mother, could be saved if they drank water from a stream near Mount Fuji. On his way, he met a girl in all white who took him to the stream and did so every day until everyone was healed. Wanting to thank her, he returned to the stream which was all dried up. He prayed and prayed to find her, and she appeared. He thanked her, but she said she wasn’t important, then waved a camellia branch above her head. A cloud from Mount Fuji came souring down and took her away, and that’s when the man realised she was Sakuya-him. 

The Goddess of Fire

One of her other great stories has to do with the Fujiyoshida Fire Festival, held every year for 2 days in August. This festival came to life because of Sakuya-hime. Many, many, many moons ago Ohoyamatsumi (who himself is the god of sea, mountains and war) had two lovely daughters, Sakuya-hime and Iwa-Nagi-hime, who was older. Sakuya-hime was taking a stroll along the beach when she met Ninigi, who asked for her hand in marriage.

Her father tried to persuade him to take Iwa-Nagi-hime but he declined, only having eyes for Sakuya-hime. They were given the blessing, but when Sakuya-hime fell pregnant on the first night Ninigi felt he had been tricked and this was another god’s child. Sakuya-hime was furious. She had the completely sane reaction to lock herself in a hut and then lit it on fire, saying if she survived the children were his. Well, she survived and walked out with 3 babies (People tend to either have a lot of children or no children in old Japanese stories).

This story is part of the reason behind the Fujiyoshida Fire Festival, and why our human lives are so short. See, the older daughter’s name in English translates loosely to Rock Princess. If Ninigi had married her, our lives would be long and sturdy like a rock, rather short and fleeting like a cherry blossom. 

Kappa, a mythological turtle-like creature

If you’ve been to Japan, you’ve likely seen the images of the cute turtle circulating around, or maybe you’ve eaten a kappa roll at a sushi restaurant (cucumber roll). Well, the actual Kappa and their story are not so cute. In modern day drawings they’re usually bright and colourful turtle-like creatures with a frill and water-filled bowl on its head. The Kappa of the olden days are turtle-like humanoid creatures about the size of a small child with a creepy leer that lives in swamps. They have long, sharp nails and are either slimy or scaly. 

The Kappa are water creatures and usually hang out in creeks and rivers, not often straying far from them. They would often drown horses or cows and sometimes take humans too. But here’s the thing, they have a certain fondness for a piece of our butthole. That’s right. We have some kind of jewel in our butthole and the Kappa love it, so if you see one coming for you cover your butt, because they will most likely try to painfully acquire this jewel.

What defence do you have against a Kappa? Well, unwanted butt-grabbing aside, they’re supposedly quite polite creatures. When one approaches you, stand up and bow as deeply as you can. The Kappa, being the polite being it is, will have to bow a little deeper than you. When this happens, the water in its head bowl will spill out and it will lose energy, leaving you to escape with an intact butthole. 

Thankfully the Kappa are mythical creatures, and although they have something of a resemblance to turtles, you won’t see real ones out and about like tanuki or kitsune (fox). But, at least you can enjoy all the cute Kappa merchandise you can buy! 

What mythical creatures are your favourites?  If you have any details you want to add or questions you’d like to ask, please leave a comment below. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter for exclusive Japan treats and follow our Instagram for unique Japan content.