鎌かま鼬いたち

noun

whirlwind cut; vacuum cut in the skin

Refers to a real meteorological phenomenon where a small whirlwind creates a partial vacuum, causing a sharp, painless cut on the skin. Often explained as the work of the mythical 鎌鼬.

• 山やま道みちで突とつ然ぜんかまいたちにあったように、手てに切きり傷きずができていた。

  On the mountain path, I suddenly got a cut on my hand as if from a whirlwind cut.

noun

mythical weasel-like creature riding whirlwinds

In Japanese folklore, a trio of weasel-like yōkai that ride on whirlwinds, with the first knocking the victim down, the second cutting with a sickle, and the third applying medicine so the wound is painless and bloodless.

• 鎌かま鼬いたちは、旋せん風ぷうに乗のって現あらわれ、人ひとに痛いたみのない傷きずをつける妖よう怪かいだ。

  The kamaitachi is a yōkai that appears riding a whirlwind and inflicts painless wounds on people.