Description / Lore
Main image of Kamaitachi.
A Kamaitachi is said to ride the wind, slashing at its victims with biting gales. Folktales about a Yokai shrouded in wind are rife throughout Japan, with some regions using the word "Kamaitachi" to refer to whirlwinds themselves. In the Shikoku region, Kamaitachi is known as Nogama ("Wild Sickle" in Japanese) due to a belief that a sickle abandoned after clearing the grass for a grave will eventually turn into this Yokai.
Many victims of Kamaitachi take a while to realize they have been attacked, as the wounds these Yokai leave do not initially hurt or bleed. There are multiple theories for why this may be. In the Tokai region, people say that Kamaitachi suck the blood of their victims even as they attack, leaving no blood to escape the wounds. In the Hida region it is believed to be three gods acting as one - the first knocks you over, the second slices you up, and the third applies a salve to stop you from bleeding.
Kamaitachi are said to move as swiftly as the wind. In the event one must battle a Kamaitachi, predicting its next movement will be vital to increasing one's chance of survival. Its most vulnerable point is its naked abdomen, though this is difficult to target as the Yokai is often on all fours. Watch your opponent closely to find the most opportune moment to strike.