Wani (place name)
A place name, possibly referring to a location in ancient Japan or a surname. Rare in modern usage.
The place name Wani remains in old records.
wani (mythological sea monster)
A legendary sea creature from Japanese mythology, often described as a dragon-like or shark-like being. Not to be confused with modern 鰐 (crocodile/alligator).
In the Kojiki, there is a scene where the sea god's daughter appears riding a wani.
Standard kanji spelling for the mythological creature and place name.
Alternate kanji form; may be confused with modern 鰐 (わに, 'crocodile/alligator').
The origin of the word is uncertain. It appears in ancient texts as a mythological sea creature, and the kanji 和邇 are used phonetically. The connection to modern 鰐 (crocodile) is unclear.