Ayakashi

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Ayakashi
Name
Japanese	あやかし アヤカシ 妖
Profile
Species	Yōkai
Gender	Unknown
Home	Sea
First Appearance
Anime	Series 3 Movie 4 (1986)

Ayakashi (あやかし, meaning. Yōkai) is a giant eel-like yōkai.

Appearance

In Mizuki's book, Ayakashi's head was depicted to lack eyes and mouth.

Powers and Abilities

Illusion: Ayakashi can create illusions, such as of mermaids.

Terrestriality

Fangs

Coiling

Oil

Legend

Illustration of Ayakashi by Shigeru Mizuki.

The name Ayakashi refers to various different yōkai including Funa-Yūrei, or live sharksucker.

For Ayakashi in the GeGeGe no Kitarō series, the name is seemingly based on a mistake of Ikuchi (イクチ), within an illustration by Seiken Toriyama, which is the original name of this yōkai. Ikuchi in the legend is an enormous being with body length reaching several kilometers. It may approach a vessel and pass by, but it may take several days to disappear due to its size, and the vessel will be in danger of sinking for oil Ikuchi emits from its body.

Since in 20th century, Ikuchi has also been referred to sea serpents.