The Niwa Beast is a mammalian cryptid reported from Niwa County, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Description[]
One Japanese newspaper, the Yuubin Houchi Shinbun, reported on April 7, 1887 about a cryptid found in Niwa County. It was a large dog-like creature, with four toes on its forelimbs and five on its hindlimbs, shaggy hair on its head, and sharp fangs in its mouth. It was captured and shown to the public as a showpiece, and hundreds of people came to see it.
Cryptid researcher Bintaro Yamaguchi found that the creature's morphology was similar to that of a lion and dubbed it the Niwa Lion. Meanwhile, he added that the lion was first imported to Japan in 1902, according to records. In other words, there should not have been a single lion in Japan at that time. He also pointed out that in Shizuoka Prefecture, adjacent to Aichi Prefecture, there is a legend of “Shaguma,” a mysterious beast with long hair on its head.
Another cryptid researcher, Michihiro Amano, guessed it was a large, long-haired Western dog. He speculated that the Japanese of the time, who were not familiar with such dogs, may have considered this a strange beast.
Sources and Other Information[]
- Newspaper: 郵便報知新聞 April 7, 1887
- 山口敏太郎（2007）本当にいる日本の「未知生物」案内 最新版 ISBN 978-4773003994
- https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/282275?page=1
- https://www.crypto-f.com/2024/09/blog-post_22.html?m=1