#nozuchi

[CLASSIFICATION: ANOMALOUS BIO/CRYPTOZOOLOGY] [LOG ID: #TML-TSUCHINOKO-03] [STATUS: RESTRICTED // PART 3 OF 4] [SUBJECT: TSUCHINOKO]

Race: Snake

Arcana: Moon

Alignment: Neutral

July 29th, 2024

Yōkai and SMT go hand-in-hand, to say the least- as a Japanese series focused around mythology and cryptids, what better chance is there to explore Japanese cryptids? I mean, I guess Yo-kai Watch, but SMT is up there as well in terms of representation for these strange, mystical creatures. Among the scores of yōkai, though, one sticks out to me in specific throughout the series, and specifically in SMT V: Vengeance... mainly in the stupid vacuum cleaner move it can pull off. Yep, today's Demon of the Day is none other than the big-nosed, big-bodied snake, Nozuchi.

Slug-like in shape and known as looking like mallets, these strange beings first date back to 1283 in Shasekishū, a collection of Buddhist stories that speaks of Nozuchi as a strange, snake-like being with only a mouth that would feed on human beings. This was later attested to in Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki, a famous compendium of yōkai, demons, and other such creatures of the night. While I can't find a direct translation of the above text, and I (rather obviously) don't speak Japanese, the books many pages go into several different recorded Yokai, and among them is none other than a giant snake covered in hair- that snake, of course, being Nozuchi.

In Shasekishū, we get a bit more about Nozuchi, the one talked about in the book apparently being a former monk who got into Buddhism, not for pursuing Nirvana or a love of life, but rather to gain great profit. As a punishment of his greed and hubris, upon his death, in the eternal cycle of Saṃsāra he was reincarnated not as a human, nor did he break the cycle- instead, he was born as the Nozuchi. This can be presumed to be the case for all other Nozuchi, as many contemporary depictions describe there being more than just one- now reborn, Nozuchi are blind hunting monsters who seem to attack at random, gobbling up any and everything they can get their mouths on. Most artistic depictions also draw them as being covered in bristly hair, much like that of a caterpillar, and these pitiable yet fearsome creatures attack those who dare to get too near.

Nozuchi

Are powerful spirits of plants and greenery. They are large, stubby, bristly worms with sharp raspy teeth. They greedily devour animals or any living thing that stumble upon their patch of green. They are easily avoided by climbing to higher grounds, although a mere bite can harbor massive infections that lead to possible death. The size of the creature may vary, some tales recount they only eat small mammals en masse, and other stories have them eat deer in a single gulp.

In Japanese folklore, nozuchi are yōkai who appear as short, fat, hairy snakes that have no features save for a large mouth located at the top of their head. They live in large trees, particularly on hill tops, and feed on local wildlife.

Nozuchi have been known to attack humans who come too close to their homes. Though they are slow movers, they will roll down the hill to bite the intruders' legs. These bites can lead to fever and death.

Nozuchi can take on human form, generally as bald priests, though they will still possess no features save for a gaping mouth in the top of their head. Priests who are banished to the wild will sometimes turn into nozuchi.

Image source.

Monster master list.