Arie - アリエ - [Yokai]

 Arie - [Yokai Kumamoto, 1876]- (JP: アリエ, ありえ)

• About this Yokai:

This is "Arie" The self appointed "leader" of the scaled ocean beasts! - Similar to amabie and other prophetic yokai like her apparently viewing  a picture of him will make you safe during an epidemic!

• History and early appearances:

This yokai was spotted one night off shore, somewhere in Higo Province (present day kumamoto) he was then reported in the Kōfu hibi Shimbun on June 17, 1876.

– "A strange creature with four legs and glowing scales had appeared one evening off the shore of "Aotori County" -

Come sunset, the beast came on land and began approaching people, The monster came up to the streets and tried to stop people who passed by, glistening its scales...but nobody would come close to it, everyone was afraid! This continued until late, when a Samurai named Shibata who was a government official of  Kumamoto. went to find out what was startling the passer-bys.

The creature told the man that its name was "Arie" and that it was the "head/leader of the scaled beasts living in the sea." Arie then went on to tell the official that it could sense both good and bad fortunes:

"We will have a bumper crop for six years starting this year, but from June onwards, a disease similar to Cholera will spread and the people of the world will die... But if you draw a picture of me and show it to your friends and have faith in it morning and night, you will be able to avoid the problem!" -

it then retreated into the sea (and like most other prophetic yokai like it.) was never seen again.

Later that same month (June 30th) The Kōfu hibi Shimbun quoted & debunked their previous article, stressing that there is no such location as "Aotori County" in the prefecture, and that the previous article was delusional or a hoax! (The same article had also debunked a recent Amabiko sighting which had appeared in the other fake "Aonuma County".)

-- Delusion or not, lets stay safe, stay home and have fun drawing Arie, Amabie & friends.

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