Thursday, May 29, 2008

Japan's Seven Most Mysterious Creatures





Number Two: The Tsuchinoko (shown above)

"The Tsuchinoko is a snake-like cryptid found throughout Japan. Reports describe the Tsuchinoko as having a thick, stubby body measuring 12 to 30 inches in length, often with a distinct neck, gray, brown or black scaly skin, and venomous fangs. Some accounts suggest the Tsuchinoko has a loud, high-pitched squeak and can jump as far as one meter. The earliest known written record of the Tsuchinoko dates back to the 7th century, where it appears in the Kojiki, the oldest surviving book in Japan. In some legends, the Tsuchinoko can speak, has a tendency to tell lies, and enjoys the taste of alcohol."

Hmmm. Sounds familiar. See the rest of the list at Pink Tentacle!

18 comments:

Thumb Biter said...

i don't get it. Who tells lies and drinks??

KonaKona(Kurosignal) said...

Kappas are well known about and can be seen in many asian stories, games or whatever else...

Some of them are interesting, especially the Tsuchinoko

Raph said...

It's absolutely beautiful! It looks like something out of a myth.
Will the list of great things about Japan ever end?
I have no idea why, but I just find it (the animal) so enchanting... I'm weird, aren't I?

Raph said...

Awesome! There's a tsuchinoko hunt in June, and they're giving 100 million yen (about a million dollars) to anyone who finds them. God, I hope they do...

And I've heard about the kappa (the last one on the list) before. They're probably one of the most fascinating legendary creatures, in my opinion anyway. I like them much better than chupacabras. ^^
Perhaps they could be another obsession for me?

Interestingly, the Japanese name for cucumber sushi is kappa-maki. Just something I know. xD

Invisible Turtle said...

I wanna get it as a pet! Anyways, I was in New York, looking up, and I'm disappointed! I did not see people dangling from wires, I only saw a giant, rotating lobster.

I'm going back Monday and taking piccies! YAAY!

sekrit7 said...

Wait, is it real or just a myth?

liltomboyblue11;) said...

i agree with raph. i looooove weird things!!! and i am a little animal obessed. reagardless, that's awesome!!!

spiffy said...

I have a few questions about the books Ananka. (I was rereading them). Is pokrovia a real place? How did they get into the Chinatown Savings and Loan if the trapdoor was nailed shut? Did Oona's twin survive?

Patsee said...

Sidonia, you mean?

Patsee said...

This is pretty awesome:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/hedgehog_assault

Konakona(kurosignal) said...

In response to Raph, don't Kappas like to eat cucumbers?...

Or is it just me? >.<

Aninnymouse said...

Cool! The Tsuchinoko looks cute, in a reptilian sort of way...

ss chick said...

ew... that 2nd kappa story creeped me out, but i am officially intrigued with them. just like aliens! and i agree with raph; the kappa are a obsession possibility for me.

Now I want sushi. ~.~ yum...

Random Irregular said...

It looks so cute in the picture.
I love weird stuff!

Cupcakedoll said...

It looks a bit like the Japanese Giant Salamander... except with scales. Maybe someone just messed up their reptiles versus amphibians?!

Kappas rock. Well, they eat people. But otherwise, they rock.

CPanda said...

Wow, that looks like something a fantasy artist would dream up. It's awesome. Yeah.... awesome. I want one. Where's an eBay link so I can get one?
Just kidding...

Kitty said...

YAY!! The kappa's on there! o^-^o (I have an abnormal liking for kappas XD) Always bow in front of a kappa so it won't kill you! And the Tsu... Tsu... The "tsushi" thingy must be drunk so it telling lies.... But when you're drunk, you don't tell lies, you tell about the wierdest things about yourself or things that you think is true. But if you think it's true, then it's not a lie, right? (I don't get myself ^^') Kappa... Kappa... Kappa... Kappa... Kappa...

Zodiac girls said...

there sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute! I wonder if they bite?