海雷
かいらい

Translation: sea lightning
Alternate names: akugyo, raichōgyo
Habitat: Sea of Japan
Diet: unknown

Appearance: Kairai are large mermaids found in the Sea of Japan. Their scaled bodies are approximately 10.6 meters long, with a woman-like face over one meter long topped with two round, golden horns. Their hair is about 4.5 meters long. They have vermilion bellies, decorative patterns on their fins, and carp-like tails. There are three extra eyes on each side of their bodies. Their call can be heard from several kilometers away.

Interactions: Despite their fearsome appearance, kairai bring happiness and prosperity. Anyone who sees a kairai even once will live for a long time and avoid misfortune for the remainder of their life.

Origin: Kairai appear on several kawaraban prints from the Edo period, which describe the date, location, and details of the mermaid’s appearance. Like other mermaid prints of the Edo period, they may have been sold and circulated as good luck charms or talismans for protection from sickness.

Legends: A kairai appeared in Yomono Bay off of Hōjōgafuchi on the coast of Etchū Province (present-day Toyama Prefecture) in May of 1805. It upset the waters in the bay several times throughout the day, making it too dangerous for fishing boats to going out. The lord of the domain sent 450 riflemen out to fire at the kairai, after which it disappeared back into the sea.