Amikiri (網切)

Name Meaning

Overview

Amikiri (網切) is a mischievous yōkai known for sneaking into fishing villages at night and cutting through nets and mosquito screens. Its name directly reflects this behavior and has been recorded in Edo-period yokai scrolls.

• Ami (網) = Net
• Kiri (切) = To cut → “Net Cutter”

Origin

• Depicted in Toriyama Sekien’s *Gazu Hyakki Yagyō* as a curious blend of aquatic and insect traits.
• Appears primarily in coastal folklore where fishing nets were vital to daily life.

Appearance

• Resembles a hybrid creature with the claws of a crab or shrimp, the body of a serpent, and the beak of a bird.
• Small and elusive, it crawls into sheds and fishing huts undetected.
• Sometimes appears with sharp pincers and a long neck.

Behavior & Lore

• Appears at night to sabotage fishing nets, mosquito screens, and cloth coverings.
• Causes frustration for fishers who must repair or replace their gear constantly.
• Acts more like a prankster than a dangerous spirit, but its actions affect livelihoods.

Symbolism

• Represents small but persistent troubles in daily life.
• A reminder of nature’s unpredictability and the fragility of human tools.
• One of many yōkai that reflect human anxieties through humorous exaggeration.