Tradition: Japanese mythology
Alternative Names: Waira
Category: Cow
The Myth
The Waira is a rare and reclusive yōkai, few of which have ever been encountered. It is an ugly beast with a large body resembling that of a cow, but with four long limbs, each ending in a single sharp claw. Male Waira are mottled in earthy brown colors, while females are red.
Waira live deep in the mountains, particularly around heavily wooded temples and shrines. They are associated with Otoroshi and are believed to guard temples and shrines against wicked people.
Their powerful claws also serve another purpose. Waira use them to dig through the earth and uncover small animals hidden beneath the ground. Moles, mice, rabbits, and other small creatures make up their diet.
The Waira is said to have a strange origin. Because of its coloring and the mountainous, wooded environments in which it is found, it is believed that the creature may be a transformed yōkai born from an ordinary toad after reaching an advanced age.
The Waira is also speculated to have some connection with the Otoroshi. The two creatures share the same kind of habitat and are often encountered together, leading to the belief that they may be related in some way.
The origin of the name Waira is uncertain. Since the name is not written using kanji, there are few clues to its original meaning. The most commonly accepted explanation is that Waira is a regional corruption of kowai, meaning scary. This interpretation has also been taken as further support for a possible connection between the Waira and the Otoroshi.
Sources
“Waira.” Yokai.com. Accessed August 30, 2026. https://yokai.com/waira/?srsltid=AfmBOorxkYQbS-rokMmMloUPhpiJKdZaztDthwaYnRMY1FNsUxVqjJNG