noun
nekomata; fork-tailed cat yōkai
A mythical two-tailed cat yōkai from Japanese folklore, often depicted as a supernatural creature with the ability to walk on its hind legs and speak human language.
猫又は、尾が二つに分かれた猫の妖怪です。
A nekomata is a cat yōkai with a split tail.
昔話には、猫又が人を化かす話
In old tales, stories of nekomata deceiving people often appear.
noun
giant mountain beast
Rare alternate meaning referring to a giant beast said to inhabit the mountains, distinct from the cat yōkai.
一部の伝承では、猫又は山に棲む巨大な獣として語られることもある。
In some legends, nekomata is also described as a giant beast living in the mountains.
The word 猫又 (nekomata) is a compound of 猫 (neko, 'cat') and 又 (mata, 'fork' or 'crotch'), referring to the forked tail. The exact origin of the myth is uncertain, but it likely developed from folk beliefs about long-lived cats gaining supernatural powers.