Meet Japan’s mythical beast who appears in bolts of lightning
Attributed to The Guardian. ENC is not independently verifying these facts.
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https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/oct/09/weatherwatch-raiju-japan-mythical-beast-ligtning-bolts
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Supporting passage from source
Raijū is normally docile but gets agitated in storms and leaps up to run among the clouds, according to folklore The Japanese raijū (thunder beast) is said to fall to Earth in a bolt of lightning. It is generally described as looking like a weasel, but is also compared to a cat, a wolf or a badger. According to folklore the raijū is normally docile, but becomes agitated during storms and leaps up to run among the clouds. Trees struck by lightning are said to have been scratched by its claws. Continue reading...
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