Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Nozuchi, Wild Mallet
Category: Insect
The Myth
Nozuchi are ancient, snake-like yōkai associated with fields and grasslands throughout Japan. They have short, thick bodies shaped like mallets, measuring around fifteen centimetres in diameter and just over a metre in length. Their bodies are covered in coarse, bristly fur resembling that of a hairy caterpillar. They have no eyes, nose, or other facial features, only a large mouth on the top of the head that points towards the sky.
These strange creatures make their homes inside large trees, particularly those growing on hilltops. Nozuchi move slowly, often rolling and tumbling down slopes before gradually making their way back uphill. They are carnivorous and usually prey on small animals such as mice, rats, rabbits, squirrels, and birds. Despite their small size, they possess a fearsome appetite. In Nara, they are said to feed on deer, swallowing an entire animal in a single bite and drawing it into their surprisingly compact bodies.
Nozuchi are dangerous to humans who approach their nests. They may roll downhill towards intruders and snap at their feet, inflicting terrible, mangled wounds. Their attacks are believed to cause a severe fever that quickly leads to death. According to the folklore described in this account, even being touched or merely seen by a tumbling Nozuchi can bring on the deadly illness.
Fortunately, their unusual method of movement provides a means of avoiding them. Travellers are advised to remain on higher ground, beyond the creatures’ rolling paths, or to climb a tree if no suitable high ground is available.
Nozuchi can also assume a humanoid form, although they are rarely encountered in this shape. They then resemble human priests, but their heads lack eyes, noses, hair, and ears. Instead, they possess only a large, gaping mouth pointing upwards. According to the tradition described here, wicked monks banished from their temples and forced to live in the wilderness may gradually transform into Nozuchi. Those with this origin are more likely to retain a humanoid appearance than to take the usual snake-like form.
Despite their resemblance to another eyeless supernatural figure, the Nopperabō, Nozuchi are distinct creatures. Their characteristic mallet-shaped bodies, rolling movements, immense appetite, and deadly association with fever make them particularly dangerous inhabitants of Japan’s wild fields and hills.
Sources
“Nozuchi.” Yokai.com. https://yokai.com/nozuchi/