26 What is a tsuchinoko? (All About Japan's Most Famous Cryptid)

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is a tsuchinoko? Topics Discussed What a tsuchinoko is How you say "cryptid" in Japanese Tsuchinoko's status as a U.M.A. (Unidentified Mysterious Animal) What a tsuchinoko looks like Some of the abilities tsuchinoko are said to have The areas in Japan where tsuchinoko tend to live The sounds tsuchinoko are said to make The prevalence of tsuchinoko in the Kinki area The typical colors tsuchinoko are reported to be The many names used to refer to tsuchinokos What tsuchinoko literally translates to and how it is written The tsuchinoko's resemblance to a hammer The mythological creature kirin The oldest records found in Japan that depict something resembling a tsuchinoko The possible links between tsuchinoko and Japanese mythology The goddess Kayanohime Nodzuchi (野槌) The tsuchinoko's rise to promnence in the second half of the 20th century Soseki Yamamoto, the man who is responsible for kicking off the "Tsuchinoko Boom" of the '70s and '80s Soseki Yamamoto's journey to document the tsuchinoko Soseki Yamamoto's disillusionment with witht he tsuchinoko craze The town of Mikata in Hyogo Prefecuture's claim that they possessed a tsuchinoko Tsuchinoko bounties The tsuchinoko's connection to yokai Some of the many video games in which tsuchinoko appear The tsuchinoko shrine in Gifu Prefecture Tsuchinoko as a revered creature of the gods Tsuchinoko as a PR gimmick/cute mascot character Real animals that people may have seen and assumed were tsuchinoko The possibility that blue-tongued skinks are responsible for tsuchinoko sightings The yamanamekuji's resemblance to the typical tsuchinoko The tiger keelback's (yamakagashi) and its possible resemblance to tsuchinoko The story of a World War II soldier that thought he had caught a tsuchinoko And much more! Note: Whether a tsuchinoko is classified as a yōkai or not depends on who you ask. While it certainly can be classified as such, it is also commonly referred to as as a cryptid (UMA, mikakunin dōbutsu). This peculiarity raises an interesting question: can a creature be both a cryptid and a yōkai? The answer to that question is probably: it depends who you ask. Support on Patreon If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month and that comes with perks like early access to episodes, a shout-out at the beginning of a future episode, bonus content, and discounts to Kimito Designs. For $3 a month you get all that plus access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and its many quirks. Whether you are studying Japanese or just enjoy learning about language and linguistics, you'll enjoy Japanese Plus Alpha. And it goes without saying that if you sign up, you'll also get my undying gratitude. Thanks in advance! Support on Patreon Sources, Links, Videos, Etc. Here are some of the English-language articles that were used during the research for this episode. The Mysterious Tsuchinoko of Japan Tsuchinoko Kayanohime Tsuchinoko Town touting mythical snake find; is 'rare' creature really a cash cow? (The Japan Times) These are some of the Japanese-language articles used as sorces for this episode. UMA ツチノコ (Japanese Wikipedia entry for Tsuchinoko) To check out the latest episode of Japan Station, use the link below. Behind the Yoshimoto Curtain: A Chat w. Comedian Stephen Tetsu | Japan Station 49 If you would like to check out the Kimito shop, then use the link below. Remember to use the coupon code OPENING10 when you check out to get 10% off (valid until the end of 2020). And if you buy $25 or more you'll get another 10% off (valid until the end of October, 2020). Visit KimitoDesigns.com. Japanese Vocabulary List Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here's some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC. Tsuchinoko ツチノコ : 槌の子 【つちのこ; ツチノコ】 (n) mythical snake-like creature; tsuchinoko Kirin キリン : 麒麟(P); 騏驎 【きりん(P); キリン】 (n) (1) (uk) giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis); (n) (2) qilin (Chinese unicorn); (n) (3) (麒麟 only) Kirin (brand of beer); (n) (4) (騏驎 only) (arch) horse that can ride 1000 ri in a day We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to [email protected]. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Original artwork in featured image: A tsuchinoko illustrated by Miko A. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapanKyoNews) Twitter (@JapanKyoNews) Full Show Notes https:///www.japankyo.com/ichimonjapan