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!
i don't get it. Who tells lies and drinks??
ReplyDeleteKappas are well known about and can be seen in many asian stories, games or whatever else...
ReplyDeleteSome of them are interesting, especially the Tsuchinoko
It's absolutely beautiful! It looks like something out of a myth.
ReplyDeleteWill 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?
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...
ReplyDeleteAnd 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
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.
ReplyDeleteI'm going back Monday and taking piccies! YAAY!
Wait, is it real or just a myth?
ReplyDeletei agree with raph. i looooove weird things!!! and i am a little animal obessed. reagardless, that's awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteI 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?
ReplyDeleteSidonia, you mean?
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty awesome:
ReplyDeletehttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/hedgehog_assault
In response to Raph, don't Kappas like to eat cucumbers?...
ReplyDeleteOr is it just me? >.<
Cool! The Tsuchinoko looks cute, in a reptilian sort of way...
ReplyDeleteew... 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.
ReplyDeleteNow I want sushi. ~.~ yum...
It looks so cute in the picture.
ReplyDeleteI love weird stuff!
It looks a bit like the Japanese Giant Salamander... except with scales. Maybe someone just messed up their reptiles versus amphibians?!
ReplyDeleteKappas rock. Well, they eat people. But otherwise, they rock.
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?
ReplyDeleteJust kidding...
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...
ReplyDeletethere sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute! I wonder if they bite?
ReplyDelete