アマビエ

noun

amabie; legendary sea monster that prophesies harvest or epidemic

A yōkai from Japanese folklore, said to emerge from the sea and deliver a prophecy of either a bountiful harvest or a plague, then instruct people to draw its image for protection. Gained modern popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as a protective charm.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいの瓦かわら版ばんにアマビエの絵えが描えがかれている。

  An illustration of the amabie appears on an Edo-period broadsheet.

• 疫えき病びょう退たい散さんを願ねがって、SNSにアマビエのイラストを投とう稿こうする人ひとが増ふえた。

  More people posted amabie illustrations on social media to pray for the end of the epidemic.