Nurarihyon, Lord of the Yōkai

The myth

Nurarihyon is a yōkai who looks like an old man with a huge, elongated head, elegantly dressed. He appears in Edo-period illustrated scrolls and in Toriyama Sekien's 1776 collection, stepping down from a palanquin like an important man. Later traditions say he slips into houses during the busy evening hours, sits down, drinks tea and smokes the owner's pipe, and everyone treats him as master without noticing. The idea that he is chief of all yōkai is fairly modern, popularized in the twentieth century by books and manga.

Why it has this power

A Rare level-7 Darkness Spirit with 2300 ATK and 2200 DEF: strong and balanced, like one who rules without needing to fight. Darkness and Moon are the dusk when he enters homes; Fox, the art of being accepted uninvited. With the Obon Lantern Festival he reaches 2800.

Did you know

The name combines nurari, something slippery that escapes, and hyon, something that pops up suddenly, a fitting description of one no one can throw out.

Connections

• In Renji, Ronin of the Snowy Roads's deck
• In Kaguya, Guardian of the Torii's deck

Where to get it

• Campaign drop: Kaguya, Guardian of the Torii (Archipelago of the Kami) — grade S: 19% · grade A: 19% · grade B: 19% · grade C: 19% · grade D: 16%
• Daily Offering: 0.11% per pack (Rare 2.8% per card)
• Traveler's Pack: 0.69% per pack · 3.6% in the themed pack (Rare 7% per card)
• Bronze Reliquary: 0.78% per pack · 4% in the themed pack (Rare 8% per card)
• Silver Reliquary: 1.3% per pack · 6.7% in the themed pack (Rare 15% per card)
• Golden Reliquary: 2% per pack · 10% in the themed pack (Rare 25% per card)
• Daily Showcase: Shows up on about 1.5% of days · 400 gems
• Craft with card dust: 600 dust
• Crossing of Myths: Can be offered as a reward during a crossing (the card stays in the crossing deck).

Sources

1. The Database of Paintings of Mysterious Phenomena and Yōkai — International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken)
2. Kaii・Yōkai Denshō Database (folklore of strange phenomena and yōkai) — International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken)