Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Quince Weasel, Itachi Cucumber
Category: Marten
The Myth
Kiuri-itachi is a curious creature described as a rare kind of weasel, though its identity is tied to a playful tradition involving cucumbers rather than an ordinary animal. It is said to appear around the time of Kyoto’s Gion Festival in June. According to the account, catching one and floating it down a river brings a curse that prevents kappa from being lured or caught. Despite its supposed rarity, it is considered inexpensive and is associated with the preparation of pickles.
The creature’s name comes from a humorous confusion between a weasel and the Japanese word for cucumber. In Kyoto, large, fully ripened yellow cucumbers were known as itachi cucumbers and were eaten as pickles, much like ordinary cucumbers. The account jokingly treats these cucumbers as a kind of weasel, giving rise to the notion of the Kiuri-itachi. Its supposed appearances on leftover cucumbers during summer evenings add to the playful absurdity of the creature, which blurs the boundary between animal lore, food traditions, and wordplay.
Sources
“Mokko Weasel.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1074589309.html