https://matthewmeyer.net/blog/2012/10/02/a-yokai-a-day-tatsu/ illustrations, folklore, and blog Thu, 22 Aug 2024 06:00:37 +0000 hourly 1 https://matthewmeyer.net/blog/2012/10/02/a-yokai-a-day-tatsu/comment-page-1/#comment-9660 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 01:14:04 +0000 http://matthewmeyer.net/?p=8200#comment-9660 […] Sazae-oni are born a few different ways; once is when an ordinary sea snail turns 30 years old. According to ancient Chinese lore, animals transform into different animals (sparrows become clams, rats become quails), and so why not snails becoming oni, right? Another way is if a lustful young woman is thrown into the sea, she will transform into a sea snail, and then if she happens to live a very long time she will transform into a sazae-oni as well. These monsters appear on moonlit nights, dancing on the surface of the sea like exotic dancers or dragons. […]

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