Neko-mata
Neko-mata can be quite civilized, often wearing clothing and speaking in human language. This one is also apparently hiding its second tail under the kimono. Don’t let down your guard, however!
I’m hard at work these days on the sequel to Deadly Flowers, and so I’m encountering a delightfully creepy new crop of legendary creatures from Japan.
Such as the neko-mata.
Now, I’m a cat person. It doesn’t feel right to fall asleep at night without something furry and warm and purring cuddled up close by. But if you ever meet a cat with two tails, or a single tail that forks at the end–watch out. This is no ordinary cat.
Neko-mata walk on their hind legs, they can awaken and control the dead, and they have a taste for human flesh. If a stray cat comes to your door and begs to be let in, be careful to count the tails first.
Read MoreNue
Note the thick black fog surrounding the nue.
A nue is…what is a nue? It’s very hard to be sure.
A deadly creature from Japanese folklore, the nue is said to be a combination of monkey, tiger, and snake. It’s hard to know how anybody can be sure about that, however, since the nue is always surrounded by a dense black fog that sickens anyone it touches. Even hearing the nue’s eerie, wailing call can bring on confusion and illness. Entire cities have been stricken by the approach of one of these monsters. They are very difficult to fight, and your best bet is to avoid one at all costs.
Read MoreDouble-Mouthed Woman
One of the creepier creatures out of Japanese mythology, mostly because she looks so innocent. You’d never know, upon meeting a double-mouthed woman, that there is anything out of the ordinary about her. Oh, you might notice that she never (not ever) puts her long hair up or even in a ponytail…but you wouldn’t know that this is because there is a second mouth hidden on the back of her neck.
Most double-mouthed women are fairly benign. The worst they do is sneak down to the kitchen at night and eat all the food in the house. The one in Deadly Flowers, though, is a little more alarming. Don’t fall asleep in her house, no matter how nice she seems.
Read MoreCentipedes. Not Cute.
I always thought centipedes were on the cute end of the buggy spectrum. Okay, not butterflies, not ladybugs, but kind of sweet, with all those little wiggly legs.
That was before I met Japanese centipedes.
They are not just terrifying; they are poisonous. No wonder they feature widely in the folklore. There’s one giant centipede from Japanese mythology who ate baby dragons for lunch. And of course there’s the one I put in Deadly Flowers, who tries to eat my heroine.
Read MoreSarah L. Thomson
A children’s book author publishing award-winning nonfiction, poetry, picture books and novels including…
“Readers will treasure the blossoming friendship between opposites in this whimsically illustrated tale. Short chapters and plenty of action make for an accessible and appealing reading experience. . . . Touching and inspiring.”
—Kirkus Reviews