Nekomata
Nekomata (jap. 猫股 or 猫又; meaning ‘forked cat’) is the name of a fictitious being from japanese mythology. It is said to be a lower form of a bakeneko (a high ranged cat-demon).
[edit] Description
Japanese folklore says that Nekomata just look like a domestic cat, but they have two tails instead of just one. They are also able to walk upright on two legs like humans, but only when unobserved. Nekomata are furthermore said to morph into demons when angry. A well known fictitious Nekomata of modern times is "Kirara" from the novel and anime series Inuyasha (written by Takahashi Rumiko). Kirara appears there as a cuddly little kitten with two tails when calm, but she rapidly morphs into a giant, flying saber-toothed tiger, when provoked or when ever her mistress 'Sangō' orders the cat to do so.
[edit] Sources
- Patrick Drazen: A Gathering of Spirits: Japan's Ghost Story Tradition: from Folklore and Kabuki to Anime and Manga. iUniverse, New York 2011, ISBN 1462029426, page 114.
