Greetings yokai fans!

Here is the trio of infectious yokai that I missed from last month. There’s not really a theme to this set; I chose them because I really liked the way they all looked. The Harikikigaki has 63 infections total, and some of them have larval and adult stages, so there was a lot to choose from. I would have regretted it if I didn’t include these funny looking critters.

I’m also excited to put up another Koshin-related bug (the gyochu). There are a few Koshin-related yokai up on the website already (Shokera and Sanshi), and I wrote a little bit about the religion in both books. I’m glad that this next book will also have a Koshin-related yokai. It’s a cool religion that doesn’t really exist anymore. It died out in the 19th century as Japan modernized.

Anyway, here they are:

Mimimushi http://yokai.com/mimimushi/

耳虫
みみむし

TRANSLATION: ear worm

HABITAT: the ears and heart

APPEARANCE: Mimimushi is an infectious yōkai with long ears and a spotted, snake-like body. It writhes and slithers back and forth as it migrates between the ears and the heart, causing discomfort in its host.

INTERACTIONS: People infected with mimimushi crave cold foods and avoid hot food. Their stomachs appear swollen and bloated. Infections can be treated with remedies made from the herb byakujutsu (Atractylodes japonica) and the mushroom bukuryō (Poria cocos).

Gyochu http://yokai.com/gyouchuu/

蟯虫
ぎょうちゅう

TRANSLATION: intestinal worm; pinworm
HABITAT: the genitals

APPEARANCE: Gyōchū are infectious yokai with six arms and long red tongues. They are extremely fond of chatting and gossiping. They live and reproduce in the sex organs, making them a sexually transmitted yōkai. Gyōchū reproduce in the sex organs on Kōshin night, a holy night which occurs every sixty days in the esoteric Kōshin religion. Gyōchū leave their hosts on these nights and visit Enma Daiō, the king of hell and judge of the damned. They tattle on their hosts, telling all of their dreams, desires, and sins to Enma, who will inflict his divine wrath on them accordingly.

INTERACTIONS: There is no treatment for a gyōchū infection. The only way to keep safe from this infection is to avoid any chance of contracting an infection by abstaining from sex on Kōshin night. Traditionally, Kōshin night is reserved for praying. Believers gather together and refrain from sleeping for the whole night, so faithful practitioners should have no problem avoiding contracting gyōchū. People who have sex on these holy nights are committing a grave sacrilege, which the gyōchū will report to King Enma. During the feudal era, terrible diseases (leprosy, for example) were believed to be divine punishments for those who disrespect the gods.

Today, the name gyōchū refers to the pinworm.

 Kitai http://yokai.com/kitai/

鬼胎
きたい

TRANSLATION: uterus evil spirit; uterus ghost
HABITAT: the uterus

APPEARANCE: Kitai is a grotesque infectious yōkai which begins as a blood clot the size of a large sake cup. Its life cycle begins in the left abdomen, and as it grows it migrates to the uterus. Gradually, it develops a face that looks like a frightful cow, bright red with black horns. It grows a long body which coils around like a snake’s. Kitai has a very short temper, but moves extremely slowly, like a slug. Because of this it tends to feel a lot of stress, which it passes on to its host.

INTERACTIONS: Once a kitai takes on its adult form it is difficult to recover from. When a kitai slithers about inside of its host, it causes bouts of hysteria. It is difficult to treat with acupuncture, because the needles often cause the kitai to become stressed, which worsens the condition. There are secret ways of treating slow moving bugs like the kitai, but they are passed on orally from master to student.