Amabiko

Drypoint etching, 100×150, August 2020

Series: Japanese phantoms

It is said that the ‘e’ in the name ‘Amabie’ was a miswriting of the ‘ko’ in ‘Amabiko’. The Amabiko was found in Higo Province (now Kumamoto Prefecture). It looked and sounded like a monkey, with a round face and covered with hair. It had three legs with clawed feet, and lived in the ocean. Ultimately, this is also connected with the Amabie and other yokai spirits.