Kamaitachi

Kamaitachi.

The kamaitachi (from Japanese: 窮奇, and sometimes also kama-itachi: 鎌鼬), translated from Japanese as the ermine of the sickle; is a Yōkai from Japanese folklore with the appearance of a mustelid and extraordinary speed. "Kama" It is a kind of Japanese sickle, also used with some modifications as a weapon by the peasants of the time. Itachi means weasel.

Always armed with a sickle or according to other versions such shaped claws, he would occasionally inflict cuts or scratches on people for no reason. This weasel-like creature is said to ride in a whirlwind, possessing very sharp sickle-shaped claws with which to attack humans, causing deep, painless wounds. It was said that any injury or physical damage of unknown cause, or that one could not or did not want to talk about, was attributed to this creature. In Gifu Prefecture, the kamaitachi is said to work in teams of three, the first rushing in and stunning the victim, the second slashing with its claws, and the third applying medicine that suppresses the bleed from the victim.

Pop Culture

• Pokémon number 215, Sneasel, and number 461, Weavile, are based on a kamaitachi. In addition, the original name of the "Cortant Wind" movement is "Kamaitachi".
• In Naruto, the character Temari can invoke a kamaitachi.
• On the sleeve and anime Dororo appears a kamaitachi attacking the protagonist, but is chased by the doctor.
• In the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, various Monster Letters of the "Yosenju" archetype (as well as "Sgrimist Fire Hunter") are based on kamaitachis. In particular, the Monster Letters "Yosenju Kama 1" ("Yōsenjū Kamaitachi"), "Yosenju Kama 2" ("Yōsenjū Kamanitachi") and "Yosenju Kama 3" ("Yōsenjū Kamamitachi") allude to the group of three kamaitachis.
• Suzu Fujibayashi, character of Tales of Phantasia, has a ninja wind art called Omega Storm which, in Japanese, receives the name of Kamaitachi and are multiple blades of wind.

Links of interest

• Obakemono Project (in English)