Old Japanese records uncover plague-warding folklore creature with sinister visage
June 28, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
Kitai no doji, a plague-predicting folklore creature, is seen in this print that makes up part of the historical record Kunshujo. (Image courtesy of University of Tokyo General Library)
Japanese folklore creature Amabie, said to ward off plagues, has caused a sensation during the coronavirus pandemic. But in the shadow of the popular "yokai" creature's resurgence, research continues into historical records of "Kitai no doji," another plague-fighting folklore creature characterized by sharp fangs and glowering eyes.
Kitai no doji, a plague-predicting folklore character, is seen in this print. Its glaring eyes and large mouth are emphasized in this document passed down in Yokohama. (Image courtesy of Yokohama Archives of History, owned by Masakazu Tsutsumi)