Meet Japan’s mythical beast who appears in bolts of lightning
Raijū is normally docile but gets agitated in storms and leaps up to run among the clouds, according to folklore
TL;DR
- The Japanese Raijū is a creature said to descend with lightning.
- It is commonly described as weasel-like but also compared to cats, wolves, or badgers.
- During storms, the Raijū becomes agitated and runs among the clouds.
- Trees struck by lightning were believed to be scratched by its claws.
- Villagers performed 'Kaminari-gari' (thunder-hunting) to contain the Raijū after lightning strikes.
- Nineteenth-century drawings show a creature around 60cm long with webbed feet and sharp claws.
- Displayed 'Raijū remains' were often fakes made from different animal parts.
- One account describes a samurai killing, boiling, and eating a Raijū that landed on his roof.