The Myth

Momi is a strange gecko said to inhabit the grassy mountain slopes of Mount Ani in Japan. According to the account, it is attracted to human sexual fluids and may attach itself to the genitals of anyone who falls asleep in the mountains, regardless of gender. Its four legs stimulate the victim, causing intense pleasure until the person releases sexual fluids, which the creature quickly absorbs as nourishment. Those affected are said to suffer from fujō, a state of physical and mental weakness attributed to excessive sexual activity. To protect themselves, travellers entering the mountains would tightly secure their loincloths and other clothing around their groins.

Similar creatures were reportedly known in the Kiso Mountains, where a related type of large gecko was associated with traditional medicinal practices. It was described as a substance used to nourish and strengthen the body. Another tale tells of a medicine seller who collected dozens of these geckos and brought them home, mixing them with an aromatic substance known for its aphrodisiac effects. When someone playfully used the mixture as a theatrical prop in Sakai-chō, its scent supposedly captivated nearby women, changing their expressions and complexions. The effect was compared to that of an exotic incense imported through the Nanban trade.

Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: 守宮, Yamori
Category: Lizard

The Myth

Imori are supernatural newts believed to be the transformed spirits of warriors who died in battle. They haunt abandoned castle ruins and ancient battlegrounds where they lost their lives, attacking and harassing those who trespass upon their forgotten territory. Although they appear as small amphibians, they retain the hostility of the dead warriors and their former lords.

One legend tells of Jingai Shuso, a monk who lived as a hermit in the mountains of Echizen Province. While reading near the ruins of Yu no O Castle, he encountered a tiny man dressed in black who became furious when the monk ignored him. After Jingai brushed the little figure away with his fan, the stranger threatened revenge. Soon, thousands of tiny warriors armed with canes swarmed around the monk, beating him and threatening to cut off his limbs. Their generals eventually allowed Jingai to escape after he apologized for his rudeness.

The following day, Jingai investigated the castle ruins and discovered a deep hole filled with more than twenty thousand newts. At the bottom was an enormous specimen, about twelve inches long, which he recognized as the warriors’ general. Local elders explained that the castle had been destroyed in battle long ago and that the souls of its fallen warriors and their lord haunted the remains of an old well, causing mischief throughout the area. Jingai chanted Buddhist sutras until the newts died, then gathered their bodies with the villagers, cremated them, and buried their remains beneath a proper grave. The burial finally gave the forgotten warriors a resting place.

Sources

“Imori.” Yokai.com. https://yokai.com/imori/