Kama-Itachi - 鎌鼬 - [yokai]

Kama Itachi (JP: 鎌鼬) – "Sickle Weasel"

• About this yokai:

A Weasel that lives in mountainous regions, said to attacks in groups of 3's, the 1st weasels attack is to stun, the 2nd attacks to slice and the 3rd applys a salve, healing the wound: they attack with lightning speed.  - Kamaitachi where used to explain why people would mysteriously get cuts from the wind while hiking. 

•History and early appearances:

Kamaitachi are often considered to be the best animal yokai at transformation: There's a saying that goes: “Kitsune nanabake, tanuki hachibake, ten kubake” — "foxes have seven forms, tanuki have eight forms, but martens (i.e. Itachi) have nine!"

At the time, almost all stories were spread by word of mouth, and so, Itachi's stories were commonly mixed up with Kawauso (Otters and weasels are similarly shaped/coloured) and for a while, they were considered to be the same animal.

"Kamaitachi" (鎌鼬) from the Kyōka Hyaku Monogatari by Masasumi Ryūkansaijin.

• Popculture: You might also recognize this yokai as the inspiration for the Pokemon known as Sneasel and Weavile.

Sticker Art by @Samkalensky (yo thats me!) - Part of my Night parade of 100 Demons - Yokai & Japanese folklore sticker collection, weather resistant 4" Glossy sticker. Check my shop & follow @samkalensky for many more!