Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: オケツ
Category: Turtle
The Myth
The Oketsu is a monstrous creature from folklore in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, particularly around Okayama City. It is said to sometimes be born during childbirth if proper precautions are not taken. It resembles a turtle with shaggy hair growing across its back and immediately attempts to crawl beneath the floor after birth. If it is not killed quickly, it hides beneath the birthing woman’s bed and kills her.
One tale tells of a woman from Oda District who gave birth to an Oketsu resembling a horned demon. It rushed beneath the floor as soon as it emerged. Another woman from the same district gave birth to an Oketsu in the form of a small snake. When those present attempted to kill it, the creature begged to be spared until the fifth month. It was kept in a box and continued growing larger as the days passed. When the appointed month arrived, a loud noise was heard during a heavy rainstorm, and the snake had mysteriously disappeared.
Sources
“Oketsu.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1067313183.html