Mikoshi-nyūdō - 見越入道 - [Yokai]
Mikoshi-nyūdō - 見越入道 - [Yokai]
Mikoshi-nyūdō - 見越入道 - [Yokai]
Mikoshi-nyūdō - 見越入道 - [Yokai]
Mikoshi-nyūdō - 見越入道 - [Yokai]
Mikoshi-nyūdō - 見越入道 - [Yokai]
Mikoshi-nyūdō - 見越入道 - [Yokai]

Mikoshi-nyūdō - 見越入道 - [Yokai]

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•About this Yokai•

Mikoshi-nyūdō - 見越入道 - 'The Anticipating Priest.'

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.

The Mikoshi Nyudo are often met while wandering dark mountain trails, typically disguised as a regular old man. - 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; 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!!

In the late edo period it became quite popular to draw Mikoshi with 3 eyes generally dubbed "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 - They're often depicted as a rival of golden boy kintaro.]

Often times, Mikoshi-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 with 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 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...

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]