| Sazae-oni | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Naming | |||
| Binomen | N/A | ||
| Original | 栄螺鬼 | ||
| Romanization | Sazae-oni | ||
| Morphology | |||
| Body type | Mollusk-like | ||
| Average height | Human-sized | ||
| Intelligence | |||
| Sentience | Sentient | ||
| Sapience | Sapient | ||
| Ecology | |||
| Place of origin | Japan | ||
| Habitat | Sea | ||
| Diet | Carnivorous | ||
| Locomotion | Crawling (real form) Bipedal (human form) | ||
| Status | DD | ||
| Behind the Scenes | |||
| Universe | Real | ||
Sazae-oni are a type of shapeshifting yōkai from Japanese folklore, whose natural appearance resembles a giant sea-based gastropod, although usually with humanoid arms and eyes. It is said that when a turban snail manages to reach 30 years of age, it is transformed into a Sazae-oni.
Biology[]
Sazae-oni are highly dangerous creatures, which can assume the shape of a beautiful woman and often seduce men before killing or castrating them. Unlike turban snails, which are herbivorous, Sazae-oni have a taste for human flesh.
At sea, they may assume the guise of a helpless drowning woman, hoping to be promptly rescued by men (who remain unaware of her true nature until it's too late). On land, they will also disguise themselves as innocent-looking young women and seek shelter in inns, only to wait for the innkeeper to fall asleep and devour him.
On moonlit nights, Sazae-oni can sometimes be seen in groups at the beaches, dancing elegantly among the waves.