Katana "Night Dragon"

Japanese dragons

In Japanese culture, the dragon (ryū 龍 or tatsu 竜) is a mythical snake-like creature. Unlike Western dragons, it has no wings, but short clawed legs and a head sporting horns or antlers. Unlike Chinese dragons, it has only three toes.

It is associated with the sea, clouds or sky. In Japanese mythology, the first dragon-like creature was Yamata-no-Orochi (ヤマタノオロチ, 八岐の大蛇), a huge, woman-eating creature with 8 heads and 8 tails. He was defeated by the kami (spirit or deity of the Shinto religion 神) Susanoo (Susano-o no Mikoto 素戔嗚命/須佐之男命). The latter had previously intoxicated him with sake (rice alcohol 酒). Cutting off all eight heads one by one, he was able to save Kushinada, who was about to be kidnapped by the dragon.

Dragons are among the main motifs decorating temples in Japan. They symbolize the obstacles human beings must overcome to progress and attain wisdom.