Forum:Possible references to Japanese legends

Today I was reading an article I had printed out sometime ago, one listing legendary Japanese creatures and giving brief descriptions, and came across some that seem similar to creatures, techniques, etc. in Naruto media. I thought about adding trivia to pages, but I wanted to run it by everyone first. Here are the possible references in question.

The Hannya is a Noh mask representing a jealous female demon. There was a tool called the Curse Mask which was worn by a princess filled with hatred.

The Hyōtan-kozō is a gourd spirit. Itachi’s Susanoo has a gourd with the Sword of Totsuka, an ethereal weapon (I know it’s a stretch).

The Ikiryō is a kind of living ghost, a person whose soul can dwell outside his or her body. Dan Katō has the Spirit Transformation Technique, which allows his soul to exit his body.

The Nekomusume is a cat in form of girl. Matatabi is a monster cat which was sealed in a young female jinchūriki, Yugito Nii.

The Noppera-bō or Zunbera-bō is a faceless ghost. The Vanishing Facial Copy Technique leaves its victims faceless corpses.

The Ōmukade is a giant human-eating centipede that lives in the mountains. Pain’s Giant Centipede seems to match that description pretty well, and the Forest of Death also had a giant centipede (the one Naruto impaled with a kunai).

Yatagarasu is the three-legged crow of Amaterasu. Itachi uses crows and has a jutsu called Amaterasu. Also, Pain had a Giant Drill-beaked Bird which had three legs and was defeated by Itachi’s Amaterasu.

If anyone agrees with any of these entries, please let me know or add it yourself. Raidra (talk) 03:15, December 14, 2012 (UTC)


 * Seems legit, and I wouldn't mind adding some stuff like this to articles, but more like trivia that going outright and saying [Possible] Influences.--Cerez 365 ™Hyūga Symbol.svg(talk) 06:02, December 14, 2012 (UTC)

You're saying put it as "Trivia" instead of saying "Influences"? That makes sense. Shall I edit the articles (when I can get around to it) or do you want the honor? If you do it and anyone complains, just point me out and I'll take the fall. In any case, thank you for the input. Raidra (talk) 16:49, December 14, 2012 (UTC)


 * Think you need to wait bit for more input, though I don't think people would object. You can go ahead with it, whenever you have the time.--Cerez 365 ™Hyūga Symbol.svg(talk) 20:50, December 14, 2012 (UTC)

I think that it should be added. I mean it's no surprise that Naruto has stuff in it influenced by japanese mythology stuff, just look at Tsunade and Jiraiya.71.71.58.231 (talk) 21:13, December 14, 2012 (UTC) Yhwach

Nice research, I must say. Miraibuu (talk) 18:56, February 1, 2013 (UTC)


 * Well, thank you, that's nice of you to say! I do have to note though that I couldn't have done it if other sources hadn't talked about these various yokai, because then I wouldn't have known about them. Raidra (talk) 17:40, February 2, 2013 (UTC)