Ningyo Yokai

**Ningyo Yokai** are a variation of Mermaid Yokai who are the Japanese variant of a merfolk.

## Physical Appearance

Ningyo Yokai are described with a monkey’s mouth with small teeth like a fish’s, shining golden scales, and a quiet voice like a skylark or a flute. Traditionally they resemble more closely fish than humans, with a varying level of human-like features, ranging from just an ugly, deformed fish-like face, to an entire human torso with long, bony fingers and sharp claws. They are hideous to behold, resembling more of an otherworldly nightmare than a seductive siren and can range in size from the size of a human child to the size of a large seal. However, modern ningyo tend to be more human-like and/or attractive.

## Description

Ningyo Yokai are the Japanese variant of Mermaid Yokai. Modern ningyo may be able to transform completely into humanoid form to move on land or split their tail into legs. Traditional ones are generally unable to change their true form and thus either stuck to water or forced to drag themselves on ground. These yokai are closely related to fish more than humans. But their appearance can range between a hideous monster and a seductive siren. A Ningyo child is the same size as a large seal.

## Abilities

Here are the abilities that Ningyo Yokai can have in their arsenal:

* Aquatic Adaptation
* Fish Physiology
* Curse Inducement
* Enhanced Senses
* Speed Swimming
* Supernatural Flesh
	+ Immortality/Invulnerability Bestowal

### Variations

* Aquatic Empathy
* Decelerated Aging/Semi-Immortality
* Enhanced Beauty or Enhanced Ugliness
* Water Manipulation
* Weather Manipulation
* Zoolingualism - Aquatic Life

### Associations

* Chinese Deity Physiology
* Fish People Physiology
* Merfolk Physiology
* Shinto Deity Physiology
* Taur Physiology
* Yokai Physiology

## Pop Culture

Mermaidyn (Yo-Kai Watch) is inspired by the ningyo. In fact, when Fubuki is inspirited by Mermaidyn, she transforms into Ningyo Lady.

## Variations

### Mermaid Yokai

Ningyo can have the appearance of a typical mermaid as they have the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish.

## Life in the Hidden World

Ningyo's flesh is pleasant-tasting, and anyone who eats it will attain remarkable longevity. However, catching a ningyo was believed to bring storms and misfortune, so fishermen who caught these creatures were said to throw them back into the sea. A ningyo washed onto the beach was an omen of war or calamity. Because of this, many yokai would avoid the Ningyo Yokai as they don't want to have misfortune upon them. One of the most famous folk stories concerning ningyo is called Yao Bikuni (八百比丘尼, "eight-hundred (years) Buddhist priestess") or Happyaku Bikuni. The story tells how a fisherman who lived in Wakasa Province once caught an unusual fish. Many humans have told this story to other people and the rest was history.

## Symbolism

The ningyo, which translates as human fish (known also as gyojin, meaning human fish , or hangyo-jin, meaning half-fish human ) is a creature in Japanese folklore that is comparable to the mermaids in Western legends. Despite the similarity in concept, i.e. the ningyo and mermaid being creatures with both terrestrial and marine body parts, these two entities are actually quite different.