for hands, to river children you should play tricks one; in this installment, we're going

to visit 10 unique, unusual and perhaps the most popular creatures from Japanese Mythology!

10. Kuchisake Onna The Kuchisake Onna, or slit-mouthed woman,

was once a beautiful woman who was murdered in a grotesque and violent way; returning

as a spirit to seek her retribution upon the world for allowing such an act to happen.

It is said she'll appear as a beautiful woman who hides her face behind a mask in an attempt

to disguise her two deep and bloody gashes; each of which stretch from mouth to ear on

both sides of her face. Kuchisake Onna stalks her victims in the shroud of darkness, revealing

herself to ask her prey if they think she is pretty. If answered "yes", she removes

the object to reveal her mutilated face. Again she asks, this time in a more grisly voice.

if they still think she is pretty. If you answer "no" or scream, she carves a matching

smile onto your face; if you respond with "yes" again she leaves, only to return to

the victim's house that night to murder them. 9. Kirin

Though its origins are not Japanese, the Kirin was first introduced to Japanese culture through

the Chinese myths of the legendary Qulin. The Kirin is often times described as near

godlike creatures that resemble a deer with scales covering its body, an ox's tail, flowing

golden manes and is surrounded within a shroud of holy fire. Since, it has become a symbol

of wisdom and benevolence to the Japanese people. The Kirin is easily one of the rarest

and interesting creatures known across East Asia. A magnificently serene being, the Kirin

eats not of flesh, but instead is strictly vegetarian. As it moves, not a single creature

is trampled beneath its tread, from the smallest of insects to a single blade of grass. It

is said to have a beauty rivaled only by its scarcity; as Kirin will only appear during

times of world peace, under the rule of noble and enlightened leaderships.

8. Tenome Tenome, or "eyes with hands", is a yokai that

masquerades as an elderly suite, or blind guide, with eyes not upon its face, but instead

on its hands. They walk aimlessly through open fields and graveyards on a search for

food; the bones of a living human. Genome waits for their unsuspecting pray to come

in close before making their attack. It is able to keep track of running victims in the

dark due to an exceptional sense of smell to compensate for its horrendous sight. In

legend, a young man entered a graveyard at night as a test of his courage; when from

out of the darkness, an old blind man appeared. When it was close enough, he noticed it had

eyes on its hands yet not its face, so he ran to a nearby temple, receiving shelter

from a priest who hid him in a locked chest. The Tenome would eventually track the young

man down due to his smell; when the priest opened the chest after the Tenome was gone,

the young man was nothing but a sack of flesh. 7. Yamata no Orochi

Yamato no Orochi, the eight headed, eight-tailed gargantuan serpent appears in the earliest

written Japanese documents, the Kojiki and the Nihongi. The Kojiki is an old chronicle

in Japan, dating from the early 6th to 8th century A.D. Legend states that every year

Yamata no Orochi would appear before the gods, Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi, who were meek and

brittle in their old age, and demand a sacrifice, one of their eight daughters. On the eighth

year, with just one daughter remaining, the storm god of summer, Susanoo, came across

the elder gods during their time of need; after hearing their tale, he would agree to

destroy the great serpent in exchange for their last daughters hand in marriage, Kushinada.

After an epic battle between god and monster, Susanoo would prove victorious in smiting

the beast, and would even discover the legendary katana of the imperial regalia, Kusanagi no

Tsurugi, inside Yamata's tail. 6. Kitsune

Having roots in Chinese mythology, the Kitsune, or "trickster fox", has two prominent variations;

the good foxes, servants of the Shinto deity Inari, and the more commonplace wicked foxes,

who delight in chaos and furor. Most tales about the Kitsune speak of the wicked foxes

and how they have been known to trick, and even possess humans, causing personal destruction

to their lives. Not innately evil, legends always speak of their honor in repaying debts,

and value of friendships they may have. The Japanese argue that the only things imported

from China were the negative aspects of the creature, as the Japanese have always held

it in the highest regard as early as the 4th century A.D. It is still currently well loved

by people, and is easily one of the most famous one on our list, and can still be seen in

popular culture, such as in many video games, television shows, movies and literature.

5. Tatsu Much akin to the Chinese dragons of myth,

the Tatsu is the Japanese counterpart. Similar in appearance, having long, scaled, serpentine

bodies, often shown to have horns and beards. These near omnipotent beings share a strong

connection with water in all its natural forms; creating the belief that they may be water

gods. Dwelling in their deep sea palaces, as to be far away from human civilization;

Tatsu rarely bothers with the concerns of humans, unless it directly involves them.

Another legendary creature from Japan, the first recorded stories go back to the ancient

books, Kojiki and Nihongi as well. 4. Oni

Another Japanese creature of some renown, the Oni, a term referring to an Ogre or Demon,

come in many varieties, though they're commonly depicted to have red of blue skin, savage

and unkempt hair, with two or more horns protruding from their heads. Oni are formed when a truly

evil Himan dies; ending up in one of the many Buddhist Hells, then becomes the ogreish servant

of the Great Lord Enma, the King of Hell. The Oni are tasked by Enma to administer horrific

and gruesome punishments, such as flaying the victims and crushing their bones with

large iron clubs. Though sometimes, if a human is so utterly and truly wicked in life that

his soul falls beyond any form of redemption, his flesh will contort and warp as he transforms

into a Oni, remaining on Earth. 3. Ashura

In Japanese Buddhism, after death, humans eventually become reborn in one of six Buddhist

realms: those reborn into Shuradō, the realm of Ashura, become multi faced and limbed,

warrior demons that feast upon chaos, violence and destruction, but above all else, they

live for war; being the embodiment of everything they desire. Various tellings of the Ashura

exist, as some depict them as mere warriors of the demon realms, others tell tale of more

powerful beings, considered to be gods among lesser beings; but every tale says they are

all powerful, intelligent and magical beings, far superior to humankind.

2. Kappa Kappa are an aquatic humanoid reptilians with

turtle like beaks and shells, webbed hands and feet, with a dish-like depression atop

their skulls filled with their power source, water. As it must be kept wet at all times,

they range in color from green, to blue and other earthen hues. They're often called "river

children" due to the creature's size and also usually depicted to be crass and violent.

Considered to be among the smartest of the yokai, they are one of the few said to be

capable of learning human languages. Solitary as adults, the younger Kappa are commonly

found in groups. Eating most anything, they are particularly partial to that of raw human

innards... especially, believe it or not, the anus; no worries though, according to

legend, the kappa will always return a bow as good gesture, and if you can get it to

bow low enough to spill the water from its head, it will panic and allow you the time

to get away... anus intact. 1. Daitengu

The Daitengu are far more tremendous and striking than that its lesser relatives, the Kotengu.

Usually appearing in humanoid form, dressed in monks robes with red faces and long, phallic

noses, and a large pair of feathered wings that grow from their backs. Usually considered

to possess greater wisdom and power than the lesser Tengu, they are often considered to

be more godlike sages of the mountains, rather than that of an enemy of mankind. It is said

that occasionally, the Daitengu will teach their secrets to worthy humans; one of Japan's

most famous warriors, Minamoto no Yshitsune, was said to have been taught his swordsmanship

from on such tongue.