Category:Kamaitachi Friends

A list of the three Friends who are based on the sharp-clawed, weasel-like yōkai known as kamaitachi. These yōkai are said to ride on dust devils and use their sickle-like claws to cut humans and livestock alike to ribbons, leaving terrible but painless wounds. These three in particular appear to be based on the kamaitachi of the legends born of the historical Hida province of southern-central mainland Japan; in these tales, there were three evil gods who would attack people in unison, in the following manner:

• The first to strike would knock the target down, incapacitating them. This is consistent with the role played by Kamaitachi (Ten) in the trio.
• The second to strike would lacerate the target with its sickle-like claws. This is consistent with the role played by Kamaitachi (Setsu) in the trio.
• The last to strike, so to speak, would apply a powerful medicine to the target, alleviating pain and preventing their wounds from bleeding. This is consistent with the role played by Kamaitachi (Chi) in the trio.