Kamaitachi, or sickle weasel is the name given to a bizarre Japanese folk tradition.
It refers to a phenomenon where people would be suddenly knocked down by a strong gust of wind and find that they had been cut. The cut was supposedly so fine that it did not hurt at first, but would invariably become infected. This phenomenon was dubbed, “kamaitachi" and blamed on malevolent kami, who thirsted for human blood.
Kamaitachi in Fiction
Manga/Anime
- In the manga/anime Naruto, a kunoichi named Temari uses a technique involving a kamaitachi in which the weasel rides a sickle flying through the air cutting everything in sight.
- Also found in the anime/manga series Ushio and Tora, three kamaitachi (they traditionally are born as triplets) feature as characters in an episode in which one of the three quite bloodily manages to kill a number of humans in revenge for ecological destruction; his two siblings enlist aid in stopping him. In this series, the kamaitachi trio can also take on human form.
- In the anime Bleach the character Ikkanzaka Jiroubou also known as "Kamaitachi Jiroubou" Soul Slayer had the ability to transform itself from sword from in dozens of very sharp projectiles that cut without a moments notice, but weren't felt until afterwards instead of immediately
Games
- The arcade game Ghouls n' Ghosts features a kamaitchi as a minor enemy in the first level. It appears as a small tornado, at which in this form cannot be killed, however once it stops spinning it appears in weasel form and thus can be killed.
- The popular RPG game Pokémon features two characters loosely based on the Kamaitachi legend, namely the pokemon Sneasel and it's evolution, Weavile. Incidentally, both are dual type pokemon, with Dark and Ice type characteristics. The latter type most likely being inspired by the wind attacks the Kamatachi utilise.
- In Japanese version of Pokemon is a "move" named Kamaitachi. It was translated in English as "Razor Wind"
- In the Playstation RPG Final Fantasy Tactics, geomancers are capable of casting an elemental spell called "Kamaitachi" which causes damage against enemies. However, they are only capable of casting this spell if they are on a roof top (where high winds often blow), possibly referring to the winds of a Kamaitachi finely cutting a person.
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