The Tsuchinoko
In the Japanese countryside, people report a short, fat snake that can leap great distances. Towns offer rewards for catching one.
What was reported
The tsuchinoko is a creature of Japanese folklore described as a snake with a short, very thick body, like a beer bottle, and a thin tail. It is said to be able to jump a metre or more, to make squeaking noises, and to enjoy alcohol.
Sightings are reported across rural Japan, and some towns, including Higashishirakawa in Gifu, hold tsuchinoko festivals and have offered large cash rewards for anyone who can catch one alive.
Explanations offered
No tsuchinoko has been caught. Scientists suggest sightings are of known snakes that have just eaten a large meal, or of blue-tongued skinks, short-legged lizards that have escaped from pet owners. The reward has never been claimed.
- When
- Reports for centuries; bounties since the 1980s
- Where
- Higashishirakawa, Gifu, Japan
- Witnesses
- Villagers and hikers
- Status
- Unconfirmed
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.