Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: 疫兎, Plague Rabbit
Category: Rabbit
The Myth
Ekito are said to have been rabbits afflicted with deadly diseases, associated with a devastating plague in nineteenth-century Japan. According to the account, Emperor Kōkaku received a large ship as a gift from the English. Unbeknownst to him, the vessel carried numerous diseased rabbits that would bring suffering to the country.
Rumours claimed that the English had abandoned the rabbits in Japan, allowing the animals to spread illness among the population. The resulting outbreak was associated with the so-called Korori, a deadly disease that reportedly killed many people within just three days.
The Ekito became feared as dangerous creatures whose arrival brought disease and death. In this account, they represent the terror of mysterious illnesses introduced from abroad and the devastating consequences attributed to animals carrying infection.
Sources
“Ekito.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1081520348.html