9 Mermaid Myths From Around The World

This Japanese creature has golden scales, a human face, the mouth of a monkey, and a voice that sounds like a flute. Sometimes it even has horns and fangs. Eating one will give you a longer life, though catching one is said to bring much misfortune. If one washes ashore it is believed that war will follow.

One story says that the creature first showed itself to Prince Shokotu when he was dying. The ningyo said he used to be a fisherman who went into waters he wasn't allowed to. His new form was his punishment, but he wanted to make up for his crime. In order to do this he asked the prince to build a temple which became the Tenshou-Kyousha shrine. It now houses the remains of the mermaid as a symbol of how sacred life is.

Another story about a ningyo is about an 800-year-old Buddhist priestess named Yao Bikuni. A fisherman caught her and tried serving her to his friends saying it was just fish. They realized the deceit and everyone wrapped up their piece of "fish" to throw out later instead of eating it. One man got too drunk and gave it to his daughter when he returned home. She lived until she was 800 years old.