Vintage Yokai Nurarihyon (Japanese Scroll) Pinback Button

This is the yokai Nurarihyon, as drawn by Edo-era artist Sawaki Suushi in 1737 It appears in the Hyakkai-Zukan, or The Illustrated Volume of a Hundred Spirits. Nurarihyon, whose name means "slippery-strange," originated as a sea monster, despite his old man appearance. In the legends of Okayama Prefecture, the Nurarihyon's head appeared in the sea floating on the surface. When people tried to catch it, it would repeatedly sink and resurface, as if mocking them. He's basically a funny interpretation of a jellyfish or Portuguese man-of-war.