Sazae-Oni

 

These pretty sea creatures, gastropods, or turbo snails, are also the stuff of Japanese nightmares! Called Sazae-Oni, these innocent animals may be hidden shape-shifters who transform into beautiful maidens, and lure men at sea. The Sazae-Oni are a type of Yokai (spirits) found in Japanese folklore and mythology. Sazae-Oni are large sea snails, that turn into women, so that they can entice seamen, pirates and fishermen to their graves. 

Often nocturnal, the Sazae-Oni have been seen dancing in the waters on moonlit nights. One of the creepiest stories about the Sazae-Oni happened on the Kii Peninsula. It describes a bunch of pirates finding a woman, and then raping her, but little did they know she was a Sazae-Oni, so while they slept, she had her revenge. She crept into their cabin and bit off their testicles.  

Eek!