Akkorokamui


Akkorokamui is a gigantic octopus-like monster from Ainu folklore, similar to the Nordic kraken, which supposedly lurks in Uchiura Bay in Hokkaido.
It is said that its enormous body can reach sizes of up to or roughly or more across.

Nomenclature

In Ainu language, atkoro-guru, at-koro-guru, at kor is "octopus", where at refers to "string, strip, strand", so that at-koro-guru is literally "something which has thin strands". Hence at-kor-kamuy, atkor-kamuy also literally translates to "kamuy which has strings ".
Sometimes the monster is represented in kanji as 大章魚 which would normally be read meaning "giant octopus".
Another common noun term for "octopus" in Ainu is atuina or atui-nau presumably meaning "sea-inau" ).
An oft-reprinted folk narrative was one initially published by under the double title of atui-na or akkorokamui. This was reprinted by as the tale of "Adoi-inau "., whereas others have republished the tale as that of the akkorokamui.

Legend

According to the legend of the Iburi region, the akkoro kamuy is a giant octopus and the nushi of Funka Bay.
The folktale asserts that the monster attains the size of 1 equivalent to metric according to legend. It was a feared monster, believed capable of swallowing a bezaisen type ship. There is always the risk of the ship being capsized when sailing out to seas where the buri and such gather, and as a precaution shipmates ready themselves with a great hook. The red body color is so intense the redness shines out to the skies, so its whereabouts can be detected from a far distance, and ships should be able to steer away and give it wide berth.
According to a variant description, a man named Itaknep claimed to have seen one at "Cape Ecori". He estimated it to be of whale-swallowing size, 20 ken. The tides all around would bubble up and froth violently.

Spider origin

According to legend, Akkorokamui was once a gigantic spider named yauskep, ya-oske-p that ravaged village named Rebunge, destroying homes, laying waste the land. A traveling elder from Shakotan found five surviving men in a cave and learned the circumstances. Together they sought assistance from elder's son in Lake Tōya. They prayed to Samaykur kamuy and Okikurmi to shrink the spider down to little size, but it was beyond the abilities of the magical spirit who ordered to carry out this task. Next, the humans begged to the sea god Repun Kamuy, who agreed to take custody of the multi-legged monster and plunged it into Funka Bay, and the spider was transformed into the octopus. This then became the baneful akkoro kamuy.

Clothing origin

Another piece of etiological folklore gives a different origin for the octopus. It tells the story of Kotan-kar-kamuy injured by a bear, at a place called Akapira. His wife rushed to nurse him back to health. The couple returned to the heavenly world, but since something worn in the earthly world cannot be carried up to heaven, the goddess disrobed and cast off her "under-belt" into the sea, which transformed into akkoro kamuy, the octopus. This "under-belt", braided from eight cords of cloth, was a sort of chastity belt worn by gentlewomen.

Rātoshikamui

A giant octopus also occurs in Ainu lore under the name of '.
According to the onomastic lore passed down in the Ishikari area, the Rātoshikamui, the octopus that was the mightiest of the sea and the huri, the giant bird which was mightiest on land engaged in a match of strength.
The ' purported to be the strongest being of the sea, while the land champion, the huri bird measured 7 ri, and they were at odds with each other over their boast. One time, the two titans met at the mouth of the Ishikari River. The octopus squirted ink, protruded its mouth, and its eyes were furious. The huri bird spread its wings assuming a guarding pose, and started pecking at the tentacles above surface, then tried to lift the octopus up out of its depths. But the octopus's head never emerged out into the air. In turn, the octopus twisted its tentacles around the bird and pulled. Their strengths were evenly matched, resulting in a stalemate.
During the tug of war, the huri kamui strove not to be dragged into the sea by flapping its tail feathers left and right, hence the sea in that area came to be called "Ishikari".

Similar creatures

Another giant sea-beast of lore said to be found in Funka Bay is the giant sea cucumber named atuy kakura,, literally "sea"+"sea cucumber", more particularly the -species commonly called, Cucumaria frondosa japonica. which folklore says transformed from a woman's mour. The name specifically refers to the type of sea cucumber known as fujiko, now classified as Cucumaria frondosa subspecies japonica. The monster uses its mouth to sucks onto driftwood, etc., to float to the sea surface, and is said to flip over fishing vessels that may approach.
The nushi of the seas around Muroran was said to be the「atuy kor ekas, a giant red monster capable of swallowing ships, but different from the atiyna, but possibly the same as the rebun ekashi, repun ekas by another name. According to the injured god narrative discussed above when the god's wife cast down her mour into the sea, it turned into the atuy-kor-ekasi, i.e., a turtle.
The repun ekas is another sea monster, said to devour 8 whales. Once, 2 fishermen were swallowed inside, and stoked a bonfire inside that caused the monster to belch them out, but they may have already been afflicted by the monster's venom for the full head of their hair fell out and they turned bald.。

In Shinto

which has incorporated Akkorokamui as a minor kami. Self purification practices for Akkorokamui are often strictly followed. While Akkorokamui is often presented as a benevolent kami with powers to heal and bestow knowledge, it is fickle and has the propensity to do harm. Akkorokamui's nature as an octopus means that it is persistent and it is near impossible to escape its grasp without permission. Shrines in dedication to Akkorokamui and associated octopus deities are found throughout Japan.
Akkorokamui enjoys the sea and offerings which reflect this: fish, crab, mollusks, and the like are particular favorites of Akkorokamui, which give back that which it gave. Homage to Akkorokamui is often for ailments of the limbs or skin, but mental purification and spiritual release is particularly important.
Akkorokamui is characteristically described with the ability to self-amputate, like several octopus species, and regenerate limbs. This characteristic manifests in the belief in Shinto that Akkorokamui has healing powers. Consequently, it is believed among followers that giving offerings to Akkorokamui will heal ailments of the body, in particular, disfigurements and broken limbs.

In popular culture