Greetings yokai fans!
I hope the polar vortext is not making you too uncomfortable. It’s quite chilly here!
Of course in the cold weather, everyone seems to be catching colds, so it’s so appropriate that this month we’re looking at these “disease” yokai.
Our first three are ready. Hopefully you won’t catch one of them!
Haimushi http://yokai.com/haimushi/
肺虫
はいむし
TRANSLATION: lung worm, lung bug
HABITAT: the lungs
APPEARANCE: Haimushi is a tiny moth-like creature with a segmented body and four wings.
INTERACTIONS: Haimushi infect the lungs and cause various health problems. They are fond of cooked rice. If a haimushi leaves its host, the person will die and the haimushi will transform into a hitodama—a fiery orb which floats about in the sky.
A haimushi infection can be treated with byakujutsu, a traditional remedy made by burning the powdered root of the herb Atractylodes japonica.
Haishaku http://yokai.com/haishaku/
肺積
はいしゃく
TRANSLATION: lung mass, lung clump
HABITAT: the lungs
APPEARANCE: Haishaku is a lumpy creature that sticks in the lungs and causes sickness. Its nose opens directly into its lugs, so it is extremely sensitive to smells. Haishaku strongly dislike pleasant and foul smells. They prefer strong fishy and raw smells. They also love spicy food.
INTERACTIONS: People infected with haishaku have the same smell and taste preferences as the haishaku. They also commonly develop depression.
Haishaku infections can be treated with gentle and shallow acupuncture.
Kiukan http://yokai.com/kiukan/
キウカン
TRANSLATION: cow distemper
ALTERNATE NAMES: haikan (lung distemper)
HABITAT: the lungs
APPEARANCE: Kiukan is a type of kan no mushi—a creature which causes distemper and irritability in children. Kan no mushi can take many shapes and infect many parts of the body. A kiukan is a kan no mushi which takes the shape of a cow and infects the lungs.
INTERACTIONS: Kiukan tend to act up and cause stronger symptoms around mealtime. When a kan no mushi takes this form, recovery becomes more difficult. However, there are a number of ways to treat it with acupuncture.