Unmushi

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Tradition: Japanese mythology
Alternative Names: Sea Cow
Category: Cow

The Myth

Unmushi is a yokai from the area around Kagoshima Bay in Tarumizu City, Kagoshima Prefecture. It takes the form of a black cow with horns and is said to emerge from the sea with a terrifying roar.

The Unmushi appears only on the 27th day after Obon. Because of the creature’s appearance on that day, people traditionally avoided going out to sea.

Sources

Takahashi, Toshihiro. “海牛 [うんむし] (Unmushi).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). July 9, 2011. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010654024.html

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