BASAN

Lore

Basan is a rare yokai that lives mainly in the mountain regions of Shikoku, in what was once Iyo Province. The name is written with characters meaning “wave mountain,” and the sound mimics the rustling, flapping noise of its wings—something people almost always hear before they ever see the bird itself. In various tales it is also called Basabasa or Inu-ho, the “dog-phoenix.”

Physically, Basan looks like an enormous rooster or hen, about the size of a large turkey. Its bright plumage shimmers in shades that resemble tongues of flame, and the comb on its head stays a rich crimson. The main anomaly is its breath: it spits a cold blue flame that never scorches skin and won’t set anything ablaze. Folklore treats this fire as pure spiritual energy, causing a deep inner chill and disorientation rather than thermal burns.