Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: 鬼胎
Category: Insect
The Myth
Kitai is a supernatural parasite that develops inside the human body and causes illness. According to the Japanese medical text Harimonsho (針聞書), it originates in the left armpit, where it first appears as a blood clot about the size of a large cup.
As the Kitai develops, the clot gradually transforms into a strange creature resembling a snake or a beast. It begins to move slowly within its host, and its movements are said to trigger fits of rage or hysterical states. Once these symptoms appear, curing the condition is considered difficult.
The Harimonsho describes acupuncture as a possible treatment for the Kitai. However, the precise method is not recorded in the text, as the knowledge was often transmitted orally.
The Kitai represents an unusual form of supernatural disease creature: rather than attacking from outside, it originates within the body and transforms from an abnormal mass of blood into a living, animal-like entity. Its movement is associated with severe disturbances in the host’s behaviour, while the secretive nature of its treatment suggests that knowledge of how to combat it was restricted to practitioners who had learned the method directly.
Sources
“Kitai.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010654267.html