Name Meaning
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.
