Raijū, the Thunder Beast

The myth

The raijū, "thunder animal", is the creature that in Japanese folklore falls from the sky with the lightning. Descriptions vary: an animal like a badger, weasel, cat or wolf, with sharp claws and a body wrapped in light. In storms it leaps among the trees and leaves claw marks on the trunks it strikes. Lafcadio Hearn recorded tales in Izumo of raijū caught in wells and shown in cages, and the belief that it cannot pass a mosquito net. It is also said to like sleeping in people's navels, so one is advised to sleep face down during thunderstorms.

Why it has this power

An Uncommon level-5 Thunder Beast with 1700 ATK and 1300 DEF: a lightning bolt with claws, fast and hard to hold. Wisp is the light around its body; Fox, the cleverness of an animal no one can keep caged for long. With the Oni's Kanabō it reaches 2200 attack.

Did you know

Hearn tells of a raijū shown in a cage at Matsue that looked like a badger and slept peacefully on sunny days, but grew restless when the weather turned.

Connections

• In Master Suzu of Mount Kurama's deck

Where to get it

• Campaign drop: Aiko, Dojo Apprentice (Archipelago of the Kami) — grade A: 17%
• Daily Offering: 0.45% per pack (Uncommon 33% per card)
• Welcome Pack: 1.1% per pack (Uncommon 30% per card)
• Traveler's Pack: 0.96% per pack · 5.6% in the themed pack (Uncommon 29% per card)
• Bronze Reliquary: 0.94% per pack · 5.5% in the themed pack (Uncommon 29% per card)
• Silver Reliquary: 0.96% per pack · 5.6% in the themed pack (Uncommon 33% per card)
• Golden Reliquary: 0.94% per pack · 5.5% in the themed pack (Uncommon 35% per card)
• Daily Showcase: Shows up on about 0.98% of days · 400 gold
• Craft with card dust: 100 dust
• Crossing of Myths: Can be offered as a reward during a crossing (the card stays in the crossing deck).

Sources

1. Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan: Second Series (Project Gutenberg) — Lafcadio Hearn
2. Raijin — Encyclopedia of Shinto — Kokugakuin University
3. The Database of Paintings of Mysterious Phenomena and Yōkai — International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken)