While broadly described as a white-blue
wolf or
dog, the appearance of the
raijū varies significantly across documents and folklore. It is commonly conceived of taking forms such as a
tanuki,
rabbit,
porcupine,
bear,
squirrel,
rat,
mouse,
deer,
boar,
leopard,
fox,
weasel,
black or
white panther,
serow,
ferret,
marten,
marine mammal (such as
whale,
dolphin or
seal),
tiger, and
cat. Summarizing its physical characteristics simply, it is often said to be a mammal resembling a puppy or tanuki, about 2
shaku (approx. 60 cm) in length, with a tail of 7 to 8
sun (approx. 21 to 24 cm) and sharp claws. However, detailed forms and features differ by source: • ''
(Tenpō era book): States that raijū
live on Mt. Tateshina (Nagano), also called "Thunder Peak". This raijū'' looks like a puppy with fur resembling a
badger and five eagle-like sharp claws. It is also called "Thousand-year Mole" because it digs holes and enters the earth in winter. •
Hokuetsu Sadan (Edo period essay): Describes a
raijū in Karasuyama,
Shimotsuke Province (modern
Nasukarasuyama, Tochigi) as looking like a rat larger than a weasel, with very sharp claws on four legs. In summer, it pokes its head out of natural holes in the mountains to watch the sky, and immediately jumps onto a cloud if it finds one it can ride. Thunder is said to always sound when this happens. •
Echigo Nayose (Encyclopedia of
Echigo Province/
Niigata Prefecture): Records that in the
An'ei era, a beast fell with lightning into a samurai home in Matsushiro. It was cat-like in shape and size, with glossy grey fur that shone gold in the sunlight. The belly hair grew in reverse, and the tips of the hair were split in two. It appeared to sleep with its head down on good weather days and became energetic during wind and rain. It was captured because it injured its leg falling from the sky, and was released after healing. •
Kanden Kōhitsu (Edo period essay): States the
raijū is a type of tanuki. •
Koshiden: States a
raijū in
Akita was the size of a tanuki with blacker, longer fur. • Oyama,
Sagami Province: A drawing dated October 25, 1765 (
Meiwa 2) of a
raijū from Mt. Oyama (modern
Kanagawa Prefecture) depicts it with a tanuki-like appearance. •
Ruiju Meibutsukō (Encyclopedia by
Yamaoka Matsuake): Mentions a man named Izumiya Kichigoro in Samegahashi, Edo, who kept a
raijū in an iron cage. It resembled a
mole or badger overall, with a snout like a
wild boar, a belly like a weasel, and ate snakes, mole crickets, frogs, and spiders. • Aizu,
Mutsu Province: A drawing remains of a
raijū that fell into an old well in Aizu on July 21, 1801 (
Kyōwa 1). It is depicted with sharp fangs and four webbed legs, noted to be 1 shaku 5-6 sun (approx. 46 cm) long. •
Chikubu Island: A drawing exists of a
raijū said to have fallen near Chikubu Island in
Lake Biwa in 1802 (Kyōwa 2). It similarly had sharp fangs and four webbed legs, measuring 2 shaku 5 sun (approx. 75 cm). • Akō,
Harima Province: A
raijū that fell in the castle town of
Akō (modern
Hyōgo Prefecture) in June 1806 (
Bunka 3) was said to be 1 shaku 3 sun (approx. 40 cm). The drawing shows fangs and webbed feet but depicts only the upper body; it is unknown if the lower body was omitted or if the creature only possessed an upper body. Stories of
raijū continued into the
Meiji era. The *Hokuriku Times* (predecessor to the
Kitanippon Shimbun) reported in 1909 (Meiji 42) that a
raijū was captured in Minotani Village,
Higashitonami District, Toyama (modern
Nanto, Toyama). It resembled a cat with mouse-colored fur. When it spread its front legs, "bat-like" flying membranes spread out from its armpits, allowing it to fly over 50
ken. It had a large tail that curled back over its face and sharp claws on all legs for climbing trees. It reportedly ate eggs. In 1927 (
Shōwa 2), a strange animal was sighted during a lightning strike on
Mt. Oyama in
Isehara, Kanagawa. It resembled a
raccoon but the species could not be identified. Because it showed strange behavior every time thunder rang out, it was whispered to be a
raijū.
West Japan variations depicted in the
Kikaishū. . While
raijū in Eastern Japan are described and depicted as mammals, stories from
Western Japan describe completely different creatures. In particular, strange
raijū legends were transmitted in
Geishū (western
Hiroshima Prefecture). A drawing of a
raijū said to have fallen in Itsukaichi Village, Geishū (modern
Saeki-ku, Hiroshima) in 1801 resembles a
crab or
spider. Its limbs were covered in scales with large pincer-like tips. It was said to be 3 shaku 7 sun 5 bu (approx. 95 cm) long and weighed over 7
kan 900
monme (approx. 30 kg). The
Kikaishū from the
Kōka era also records the corpse of a similar
raijū that fell in Shiogama, Kokonokaichi-no-sato, Geishū on May 10, 1801 (see image). Despite slight differences like "Itsukaichi" vs "Kokonokaichi", these are considered the same event. Furthermore, there is a drawing of a
raijū dated May 13, 1801, also having pincer-tipped scaled limbs, accompanied by a description of features indistinguishable from the drawing alone: "Face like a crab, forehead has whorled hair, has four legs, like bird wings, scales grow, has hooked claws like iron." In
Inshū (modern
Tottori Prefecture), a drawing remains of a beast said to have fallen in the castle town at dawn in May 1791 (
Kansei 3). It measured 8 shaku (approx. 2.4 meters) long, with sharp fangs and claws. Because its body shape resembled a
seahorse, it was named "Rairyū" (Thunder Dragon) instead of
raijū (see image). From cases like these, some view "Raijū" as a general term for phantom beasts that fall during lightning storms, with no fixed appearance. == Scientific theories and true identity ==