Mikoshi-nyūdō - 見越入道 - [Yokai]

Mikoshi-nyūdō - 見越入道 - 'The Anticipating Priest.' aka 'Look-over Monk'  ('Miage-nyūdō') etc.

•About this Yokai: A type of Ōnyūdō (JP: 大入道) - a title given to "giant mountain men" or "big priests" of which there are many, many variants across Japanese Folklore & Mythology. - Mikoshi Nyudo in particular are said to often be met while wandering dark mountain trails alone typically disguised as a regular old man. - as you approach him without warning his neck shoots straight up, ever extending. he grows taller and faster than your eyes can move! Most humans become overwhelmed, falling over backwards and are then eaten alive.. The only way to survive an attack would be to anticipate it; (hence the name) when one meets a mikoshi it is vital to stare down at his feet, causing him to shrink instead of grow. Standing firmly and shouting "MIKOSHITA!" or "I'VE SEEN PAST YOU!" will cause him to vanish into thin air!! 

• History & Early Appearances: 

[a mikoshi nyudo appears from behind a tree as depicted in toriyama sekiens gazu hyakki yagyo 1776.]

In the late edo period it became popular to draw Mikoshi-nyudo with 3 eyes, these are often dubbed as "Mitsume-Nyudo" [as far as lore goes, they're the same monster, but mitsume is often seen wearing samurai armor, so hes often considered a higher rank, He might have also been supposed to look like a certain political figure from the time (as a lot of yokai artwork from that period where political cartoons!!!) - They're often depicted as a rival of golden boy kintaro.] Often times, Mitsume-nyudo where also considered the "chief" or "boss" yokai in command of situations where they appear. [often because their tall necks would take up so much page space!!]

Mikoshi are often depicted along side Rokurokubi and are frequently mistaken as a male variant, however unlike most Rokurokubi who are typically suffering from a curse: Mikoshi Nyudo are merciless monsters and where never human.

[mikoshi & rokurokubi depicted scaring people, edo period by Gyosai ]

Mikoshi Nyudo are also rather humorously, one of the choice transformations of Tanuki-- (The phallic shape of their long necks was not lost on anyone, even in old japan.) --you'll never really know if you're dealing with either monster unless you're paying close attention...

[tanuki disguised as Mikoshi-nyudo]

[Konyudo, a 200-year old mechanical doll that appears at local festivals in yokkaichi city today hes also their adorable mascot]

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! - [Last 2 bg pics inspired mine, from the book "Yokai Storyland" part of the yumoto koichi collection and @mononoke_museum yokai museum]