Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Atkor Kamuy, Atkorkamuy, Akkoro Kamui
Category: Mollusc
The Myth
Akkorokamui is a gigantic red octopus deity that inhabits Uchiura Bay in Hokkaido, Japan. When it spreads its tentacles, its enormous body is said to cover an area of more than a hectare. It is large enough to swallow boats and even whales whole. Its brilliant red coloration is so intense that, when it rises from the water, the sea and sky appear to turn deep red. As a powerful water deity and the lord of Uchiura Bay, Akkorokamui inspires both reverence and fear.
Ships that venture too close to the creature risk being swallowed whole. For generations, local people have avoided the water whenever the sea and sky turn red. Fishermen and sailors who have no choice but to venture out carry scythes for protection against the enormous being. Its name derives from the Ainu name Atkor Kamuy, often interpreted as “string-holding kamuy,” referring to its long, string-like tentacles. The word kamuy denotes a divine or spiritual being in Ainu belief.
According to legend, Akkorokamui was once a gigantic spider named Yaushikep that lived in the mountains near the village of Rebunge. Its enormous red body covered more than a hectare, and one day it descended from the mountains and began rampaging through the village, shaking the earth and destroying everything in its path. The terrified villagers prayed for help, and Repun Kamuy, the god of the sea, answered their pleas. He dragged Yaushikep into Uchiura Bay, where the monstrous spider transformed into a gigantic octopus. From then on, it became the divine ruler of the bay, known as Atkor Kamuy, or Akkorokamui.
Sources
“Akkorokamui.” Yokai.com. https://yokai.com/akkorokamui/