Japanese Mythology

Mohana

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternate Names: Monohana
Category: Fish, Goldfish

The Myth

During the reign of Emperor Go-Kōgon, there lived a loyal samurai named Karakoto Uraemon, a retainer of the Shinano guardian Ogushi Jirozaemon. He dwelled with his lawful wife, San, beside the banks of the Chikuma River. Though their life was peaceful, sorrow lingered in the household, for San bore no children despite many years of marriage. Uraemon prayed daily to gods and Buddhas, begging for an heir.

Around this time, goldfish newly arrived from Ming China were admired as rare wonders. Uraemon purchased a pair at great cost for his lord, who rewarded him with a fine sword. The goldfish multiplied, and some were given back to Uraemon, who raised them with devotion until their colors shone red, white, and gold.

Still childless, Uraemon took a concubine, seeking only kindness of heart. He chose a young woman of seventeen, raised in the capital, modest in appearance yet naturally beautiful. He named her Mohana—Weed Flower—and gave her a room in the house. There was no jealousy between San and Mohana, and when Mohana soon became pregnant, joy filled the household.

Soon after, Uraemon was summoned to Kamakura on duty. Before leaving, he told the two women only this: to care well for the goldfish until his return.

While Uraemon was away, San encountered a man named Furutori Minobunta, a handsome but violent youth living nearby. He whispered poison into her ears, claiming that Mohana and Uraemon had long been lovers and were plotting to murder San. At first she doubted him, but forged letters bearing her husband’s hand shattered her trust. Consumed by jealousy and rage, San fell into a secret relationship with Minobunta, who fed her lies and guided her thoughts toward murder.

One day, San lured Mohana—eight months pregnant—into the storehouse. There she abused her, gagged her, stripped her, bound her with rough rope, and beat her with bamboo. Mohana’s face swelled and her body bled, yet she could not scream. For three days she hung there, starving and weak, like a hungry ghost.

At last she escaped and crawled to the goldfish tank, pressing her mouth to the water in desperate thirst. Her cry drew San and Minobunta. Minobunta kicked her, tearing open her womb, and from it a living boy crawled out. Driven mad with jealousy, San strangled the child at once.

Mohana screamed in agony, spat blood, and died.

Her blood flowed into the tank. A fierce wind arose, and the water churned. The goldfish absorbed the blood, their bodies turning the deep crimson of human flesh. Their eyes burned with fury, their bellies swelled, and they thrashed wildly, spitting water as if crying out in wrath.

Minobunta hid the bodies beneath the floor and fled with San into the night. Only a young maid witnessed the truth. Mohana and her child were later buried in secret by Uraemon’s brother.

Unaware, Uraemon labored faithfully in Kamakura. One night, passing a Jizō hall, he saw a woman in white cradling a child. Though gaunt, the face was unmistakably Mohana’s. Shaken, he soon learned the truth by letter and rushed home.

The goldfish swam strangely around him, as if bearing Mohana’s resentment. Uraemon prayed for her soul and released the fish into a temple pond. Through Buddhist teaching, Mohana’s spirit found enlightenment, but the goldfish remained as a warning of cause and effect.

Uraemon became a wandering avenger, seeking Minobunta and San. He eventually met Minobunta on a rainy night, and after a fierce clash, was trampled to death amid pursuing men and horses.

Long after, it is said, the blood-marked goldfish spread through the land, their lineage preserved as living reminders of grief, jealousy, and karmic retribution.

Gallery

Sources

TYZ-Yokai Blog contributors. (n.d.). 毛羽毛現 (Mōhana). In TYZ-Yokai Blog, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1037132429.html

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Furukawa Namazu

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternate Names: Furukawa Catfish
Category: Yōkai, Well dweller, Fish, Catfish

The Myth

In the Furukawa River area of Iguchi, there were many ancient wells whose origins were long forgotten. Each of these wells was said to be home to a great catfish, known as the master of the well.

One day, the young men of the village gathered together and spoke of a plan to catch these catfish. Among them sat a single young man no one recognized, who listened quietly as they talked.

That night, carrying torches, the young men went to the old wells to carry out their plan. Yet when they arrived, something was wrong. Though every well was known to have its master, not a single catfish could be found.

As they searched in confusion, one young man leaned over a large old well. Suddenly, he screamed. Startled, the others rushed to look inside, and there they saw many masters of the wells gathered together in one place.

The strangers’ secret had been revealed. One of the catfish had disguised itself as a human, slipped into the village, and overheard their discussion. The masters of the Furukawa wells had assembled to speak of the danger.

From that time on, it is said that the people of this region never again tried to catch catfish from wells.

Gallery

Sources

TYZ-Yokai Blog contributors. (n.d.). 一つ目小僧 (Hitotsume-kozo). In TYZ-Yokai Blog, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010655102.html

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Oarfish

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternate Names: Dragon Palace Guard Sword, Sea Messenger
Category: Fish, Spirit

The Myth

In the deep and distant seas lives an immense, slender fish known as the Oarfish, sometimes called the Messenger of the Dragon Palace. Its body is long and pale like polished silver, marked with strange circular patterns, and crowned with vivid red fins that trail behind it like a flowing mane. When it rises from the depths, it moves with slow, solemn grace, as though carrying a message from another world.

The oarfish is rarely seen. It normally dwells far below the surface, beyond the reach of ordinary fishermen. When it does appear near the shore, people believe it is not by chance. Its emergence is taken as a sign—a warning from the sea itself. The sight of its red crest cutting through the water is said to foretell great disturbances: earthquakes, storms, or upheavals hidden beneath the waves.

Because of its size and otherworldly appearance, the oarfish has long been regarded as a strange being rather than a mere fish. Those who encounter it often describe it as unfamiliar and unsettling, a creature that does not belong to the human world. Some say it glides just above the water’s surface, its fins spreading wide like wings, as though it could lift itself into the air.

The oarfish is also linked to tales of beings from the sea depths—palace guardians, messengers, and even merfolk. Its flowing red fins and pale body resemble the descriptions of sea spirits and mysterious women of the ocean, and it is sometimes said that the oarfish travels between the Dragon Palace beneath the sea and the world above, carrying omens rather than words.

Though it does not attack humans, its presence inspires unease. To see an oarfish is to be reminded that the sea has its own will, its own hidden realms, and its own warnings. When it appears, people watch the water closely, knowing that something unseen is stirring in the depths.

Gallery

Sources

TYZ-Yokai Blog contributors. (n.d.). 山姥 (Yama-uba). In TYZ-Yokai Blog, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1077741626.html

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Amitabha Fish

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology, Budhist lore
Alternate Names: Amida Fish
Category: Fish

The Myth

Long ago, far to the southwest of the land of Shushishi, there lay an island where more than five hundred families lived by fishing. The people depended entirely on the sea, and their days were spent casting nets and hauling in their catch.

One day, an extraordinary event occurred. From the sea came countless large fish, swimming all the way onto the shore. The islanders were overjoyed and rushed to the beach, expecting a great bounty. As they gathered, they heard something strange: each fish made a sound like a human voice, repeatedly calling out, “Amida Buddha, Amida Buddha.”

The people, unfamiliar with Buddhist teachings, did not understand the meaning of the words. They simply named the creatures Amitabha Fish, after the sound they made. They soon noticed that whenever the name was spoken aloud, more fish would approach the shore. Discovering this, the islanders began chanting the name again and again, using it to lure the fish closer.

The fish did not flee. They allowed themselves to be taken and killed. When the people ate their flesh, they found it astonishingly delicious. Those who chanted the name of Amida Buddha fervently said the taste was rich and sweet, while those who chanted only weakly found the meat bitter and sharp. Entranced by the flavor, the islanders began chanting the sacred name constantly, driven by both pleasure and habit.

In time, an elder—one of the first to eat the Amitabha Fish—passed away. Three months later, he appeared on the shore riding a purple cloud, his body shining with radiant light. He spoke to the people, saying:

“After my death, I was reborn in the Pure Land. This came to pass because I delighted in the flesh of the Amitabha Fish and chanted the name of Amida Buddha. That great fish was none other than Amida Buddha himself, taking pity on our ignorance. He transformed into a fish, guided us to chant his name, and even offered his own body as food. Because of the bond formed through this act, I was reborn in the Pure Land.”

He then said that anyone who doubted his words should look upon the remains of the fish.

After the elder vanished, the people examined the discarded bones of the Amitabha Fish. They found that every bone had transformed into a lotus flower.

Filled with awe and remorse, the islanders abandoned killing and devoted themselves entirely to chanting the name of Amida Buddha. In time, each of them was reborn in the Pure Land. The island was left empty and silent, its former inhabitants gone, leaving only the shore where the sacred fish had once gathered.

Gallery

Sources

TYZ-Yokai Blog contributors. (n.d.). 狐火 (Kitsunebi). In TYZ-Yokai Blog, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1065099106.html

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Nuegyo

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternate Names: Nue
Category: Fish, Cat

The Myth

Nuegyo is a strange and unsettling fish said to appear in the seas off the coast of Japan. Those who encountered it did not recognize it as any known creature of the ocean, and even experienced fishermen were unable to name it.

The Nuegyo is said to be about the length of a man’s forearm. Its skin is rough, like that of a shark, while its head resembles that of a cat. Atop its head rests a hard, bowl-shaped mass, like stone. Its nose and mouth are also catlike, and from both sides of its jaw protrude sharp, bone-like spines several inches long. A thin spine rises from the top of its head, giving it an even more unnatural appearance.

Its body is shaped somewhat like that of a gurnard, but its fins are long and soft, extending all the way toward the tail. These fins are wide and flexible, like the wings of a bat. When spread open, they form a fan-like shape. It is said that the Nuegyo can use these fins as wings, rising above the surface of the sea and gliding through the air.

Because of its bizarre combination of features—part fish, part beast, and capable of flight—people began to call it Nuegyo, likening it to the legendary Nue, a creature made of mismatched forms. Whether it truly flies or merely skims the waves is unknown, but the Nuegyo is remembered as a sea being that does not fully belong to water or sky, and whose appearance defies ordinary understanding.

Gallery

Sources

TYZ-Yokai Blog contributors. (n.d.). 座敷童子 (Zashiki-warashi). In TYZ-Yokai Blog, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010654392.html

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Senzanri

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternate Names: Thousand Mountain Carp
Category: Fish, Mountain dweller, Carp

The Myth

The Senzanri is a strange and transformative carp, said to be capable of leaving the water and becoming a creature of the mountains.

According to the story, a boy named Torakichi spoke of this being from his own experience. He said that when certain substances were mixed into water or shaped like fish and placed in old ponds, crucian carp would appear in great numbers. These carp were not ordinary fish. Among them were those that would later become Senzanri, carp that transform and give birth after leaving the water.

It is commonly said that carp climb waterfalls and become dragons, but Torakichi explained that this belief misunderstands what truly happens. The carp do not become dragons. Instead, using the force they gather while leaping up waterfalls, they launch themselves into the mountains. There, far from rivers and ponds, the transformation begins.

Once on land, the carp rolls about in grassy places. As time passes, its body becomes rounder and harder, forming a shell. Hair grows between its scales. Its fins change into four limbs, and the creature begins to crawl like a land animal. Though its shape changes, its inner body remains that of a carp.

In this form, the Senzanri lives in mountain pools, where it gives birth to offspring known as mountain-burrowing carp. These young inherit the strange nature of their parent, belonging neither fully to water nor to land.

The Senzanri is thus a creature that bridges worlds: born as a fish, transformed by the mountains, and living a life hidden from ordinary human sight.

Gallery

Sources

TYZ-Yokai Blog contributors. (n.d.). 雪女 (Yuki-onna). In TYZ-Yokai Blog, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010654386.html

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Omoshiroi zo

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternate Names: Omoshiroi zo
Category: Mountain dweller

The Myth

This strange incident is said to have happened in the youth of an old man named Kikuchi Yanosuke.

One night, under a faint, pale moon, Yanosuke and several companions were crossing Sakaiki Pass, a mountain path leading toward the coast. Yanosuke was known as a skilled flute player, and as they traveled, he played his flute while walking.

As they passed through a place called Ōyachi, they entered a deep valley. White birch trees grew thickly there, and below the path ran a marshy ravine filled with reeds and tall grasses.

While they were crossing this valley, a high, piercing voice suddenly rose from the depths below. From the darkness of the ravine, something unseen cried out:

“Omoshiroi zo—!”
(“This is interesting!”)

At the sound of the voice, everyone turned pale with fear. Without seeing any figure or source, the group fled in terror, abandoning the path and running from the valley.

Later in his life, Yanosuke experienced another unsettling event deep in the mountains, when he heard the scream of a woman echoing through the forest. It was later discovered that, at the very same time, his sister had been killed by her own son.

The voice calling “Omoshiroi zo” was never explained, and no form was ever seen. It remains remembered as one of the many eerie, disembodied presences said to dwell in the mountains and valleys of the region.

Gallery

Sources

TYZ-Yokai Blog contributors. (n.d.). 面白いぞ (Omoshiroi zo). In TYZ-Yokai Blog, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1074589312.html

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The Monster of Hiroshima Tenmacho

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Tradition / Region: Japanse Mythology
Alternate Names: Hiroshima Tenmacho Kaibutsu
Category: House dweller

The Myth

In Tenmacho, Hiroshima, it is said that a strange monster was born to the wife of a horseman named Yukimatsu. The birth took place in February, in an area associated with the land of the dead.

The creature was described as about eighteen inches tall, with very short limbs measuring only three to four inches. It possessed three legs instead of two. Its body was entirely red and horse-like in form. One of its most disturbing features was an enormous scrotum, said to be as wide around as the creature was tall.

The being did not resemble any known animal or human. It was regarded as an unnatural birth and was spoken of simply as a monster, remembered for its unusual shape and disturbing appearance rather than for any actions it took.

The story survives as an account of a bizarre and unsettling creature that briefly entered the human world and became part of local memory.

Gallery

Sources

TYZ-Yokai Blog contributors. (n.d.). 広島伝馬町の怪物 (Hiroshima Tenmachō no Kaibutsu). In TYZ-Yokai Blog, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1062856281.html

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Abumi-guchi

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternate Names: Abumiguchi
Category: Object, Yokai

The Myth

On old battlefields where grass grows over rusted iron and forgotten bones, an Abumi-guchi is said to wait.

Long ago, it was nothing more than a stirrup—one of a matched pair belonging to a warrior who rode into battle and never returned. When the fighting ended, the dead were buried or burned, the living went home, and the stirrup was left behind in the dirt, still shaped to bear a foot that would never again step into it.

As years passed, the abandoned object awakened.

The iron frame sprouted coarse fur, and where the foot once rested, a mouth formed—wide, soft, and wordless. Thus the Abumi-guchi was born, a tsukumogami shaped not by malice, but by longing.

Unlike many yōkai, the Abumi-guchi does not roam. It does not hunt, trick, or frighten travelers. It remains where it fell, half-buried in grass or mud, facing the direction from which its master once rode. It waits patiently, endlessly, believing that the warrior will return to claim it.

Those who encounter an Abumi-guchi describe it as gentle and sorrowful. It does not attack. It does not speak. If approached, it merely watches with its hollow mouth, as though expecting a familiar presence. Some say it shifts slightly when footsteps approach, mistaking strangers for its long-dead owner.

The Abumi-guchi is said to endure until it finally decays completely, or until time itself erases the memory of the battle. Until then, it remains a symbol of loyalty without reward—an object bound to a purpose that can never again be fulfilled.

In Japanese folklore, the Abumi-guchi stands as a quiet reminder that even tools can grieve, and that devotion, when left behind, may linger far longer than the lives that once gave it meaning.

Sources

Yokai.com contributors. (n.d.). Abumi-guchi. In Yokai.com — The Japanese Mythology Database, from https://yokai.com/abumiguchi/

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Abumi-guchi. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abumi-guchi

Azuki Hakari

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternate Names: Azukihakari, Bean Counter
Category: Yōkai, Household Dweller, Red beans

The Myth

In the quiet hours after midnight, when houses settle and the world grows still, the Azuki Hakari makes itself known—not by sight, but by sound.

It is said to dwell in rural homes, temples, and old buildings, hiding in attics, ceilings, or garden shadows. No one has ever seen an Azuki Hakari. Its presence is announced only through a sequence of noises that unfold with deliberate precision, as though following a ritual known only to the spirit itself.

An encounter often begins with heavy footsteps above the room, pacing slowly in the narrow space between ceiling and roof. The steps are deliberate, neither hurried nor random, as if someone were measuring the house from above. Soon after, another sound joins the steps: the dry, rhythmic scattering of azuki beans, striking against windows or sliding doors. The sound repeats steadily, like counting—bean after bean—growing louder with time.

As the night deepens, the noises change. The dry patter of beans becomes the sound of splashing water, as though something unseen were washing or pouring liquid nearby. Finally, the rhythm resolves into the unmistakable clack of geta—wooden sandals—walking just outside the room, circling the house.

Those who dare to open the door or window in response are met with sudden silence. The footsteps vanish. The beans are gone. No water remains. There are no tracks, no marks, no sign that anything was ever there.

In older accounts, it is said that the Azuki Hakari may sometimes cause dust or scraps of paper to fall from the ceiling, but it never harms the residents. It does not steal, attack, or speak. Its purpose is unknown. It simply performs its nocturnal counting and departs.

Because the Azuki Hakari is never seen, its true nature remains uncertain. Some believe it is related to other azuki spirits, while others insist it is something separate—an invisible presence made entirely of sound. In many stories, encounters once attributed to river-dwelling azuki yōkai are now believed to have taken place within homes, pointing instead to the silent work of the bean counter.

Thus the Azuki Hakari endures in folklore as a reminder that not all spirits announce themselves with form or violence. Some are known only by rhythm and repetition, by footsteps in the dark and beans that were never there—proof that even an empty house is never truly empty.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Azukihakari. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azukihakari

Yokai.com contributors. (n.d.). Azukihakari. In Yokai.com — The Japanese Mythology Database, from https://yokai.com/azukihakari/