{{Short description|Eerie bird in Japanese folklore}} [[File:SekienItsumade.jpg|right|thumb|200px|"Itsumade" (以津真天) from the ''Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki'' (1779) by Toriyama Sekien]] {{nihongo|'''Itsumade'''|以津真天|lead=yes}} is an eerie reptilian bird featured in the Japanese collection of Yōkai pictures, the ''Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki'' by Toriyama Sekien published in 1779. Its picture has the explanatory text, "as explained more fully in the ''Taiheiki'', Hiroari shot the eerie bird that cries, 'itsumade itsumade'" (広有 いつまでいつまでと鳴し怪鳥を射し事 太平記に委し), so it depicts the odd bird that appears in the ''Taiheiki'' (circa 14c), volume 12, "Hiroari Shot the Eerie Bird" (広有射怪鳥事, "Hiroari Keteu wo Iru Koto").
== The eerie bird in ''Taiheiki'' == According to the ''Taiheiki'', around the fall of 1334 (in the Kenmu years), an epidemic illness was causing many deaths and almost every night, an eerie bird appeared on top of the Shishinden (:ja:紫宸殿) crying "itsumade itsumade" (until when? Until when?) causing great fear. The nobility thought back to how the master of arrows Minamoto no Yorimasa slew the nue and made a request to Oki Jirōzaemon Hiroari (:ja:真弓広有) who splendidly shot down the eerie bird with a kabura-ya. It is said that the eerie bird had a human-like face, a curved beak, saw-like teeth, a snake-like body, talons as sharp as swords, and a wingspan of about 1 jō and 6 shaku (about 4.8 meters).<ref>{{Cite book|author=山崎正和訳|title=太平記|year=1990|publisher=河出書房|isbn=978-4-309-00647-5|pages=180–181}}</ref>
In the ''Taiheiki'', the bird is merely written to be the "eerie bird" with no distinctive name. The "Itsumade" name in the ''Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki'' is considered to be a naming Sekien made upon illustrating this story in the ''Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki'' on the basis of the bird's cry.<ref>{{Cite book|author=村上健司編著|title=日本妖怪大事典|year=2005|publisher=角川書店|series=Kwai books|isbn=978-4-04-883926-6|page=35}}</ref> In various Edo Period illustrations of battle, this bird was depicted as a monstrous bird or black cloud in order to convey the idea,<ref>鈴木重三 監修『生誕200年記念 歌川国芳』 日本経済新聞社 1996年 227頁</ref> but among them none to be found that use the name "Itsumade."
== Explanatory text starting in Shōwa== Yōkai-related literature starting in Shōwa began to also give the reading "Itsumadeten." They also sometimes come introduced with explanatory text that say things such as how this eerie bird stops nearby the corpses of those who died from battle or starvation and cry "itsumade itsumade" (Until when? Until when?), basically meaning "until when will this corpse be left here?"<ref>{{Cite book|author=水木しげる|title=図説 日本妖怪大全|year=1994|publisher=講談社|series=講談社+α文庫|isbn=978-4-06-256049-8|page=68}}</ref> or how this eerie bird is the vengeful spirit (onryō) of those who died that way, turned into a bird.<ref>{{Cite book|author=多田克己|title=幻想世界の住人たち|volume=IV|year=1990|publisher=新紀元社|series=Truth In Fantasy|isbn=978-4-915146-44-2|pages=323–324}}</ref>
==In popular culture== Itsumade, alternatively as Itsumaden, has been featured in various fantasy productions such as ''GeGeGe no Kitarō'',<ref>{{cite web |title=第12話 霊界からの着信音 |url=https://lineup.toei-anim.co.jp/ja/tv/kitaro/episode/12/ |website=Toei Animation |access-date=23 September 2025 |language=ja}}</ref> ''Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube'',<ref>{{cite web |title=地獄先生ぬ〜べ〜 #105 妖鳥・以津真天の巻 |url=https://x.com/nube_off/status/1729697762994712809 |work=Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube Official |date= 29 November 2023 |access-date=23 September 2025 |language=ja}}</ref> ''Garo'',<ref>{{cite web |title=第6話「伏魔」|url=https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/garo-gurennotsuki/episodes/index_2.html |website=Garo: Crimson Moon Official |access-date=23 September 2025 |language=ja}}</ref> ''Nioh'',<ref>{{cite web |title=以津真天 |url=https://x.com/nioh_game/status/1340220332666318848 |work=Nioh Official |date= 19 December 2020 |access-date=23 September 2025 |language=ja}}</ref> ''Touhou Project'',<ref>{{cite web |title=広有射怪鳥事 ～ Till When? (35位) |url=https://toho-vote.info/result16/music/1028.php |work=東方人気投票実行委員会 |access-date=23 September 2025 |language=ja}}</ref> ''Fate/Grand Order'',<ref>{{cite web |author= Shōichi Furumi |author-link= :ja:古海鐘一 |others= Hikaru Sakurai / Type-Moon |title=Fate/Grand Order 英霊伝承異聞 ～蘆屋道満～ |url=https://web-ace.jp/tmca/contents/2000064/ |website=Comic Ace |access-date=23 September 2025 |language=ja}}</ref> ''Z/X'',<ref>{{cite web |title=ブースターパック 星火燎原編 爆臨！超新星 |url=https://www.zxtcg.com/product/booster_48.html |work= Z/X -Zillions of enemy X Official |date= 22 April 2024 |access-date=23 September 2025 |language=ja}}</ref> ''Onmyōji'',<ref>{{cite web |title=以津真天 |url=https://www.onmyojigame.jp/shikigami/286.html |work= Onmyōji Official |date= 22 April 2024 |access-date=23 September 2025 |language=ja}}</ref> and ''Phantom Beast Story''.<ref>{{cite web |title=詳細情報 : 以津真天 |url=http://gmtools.stars.ne.jp/detail.html?no=48 |work= げんもの育成支援ツール |access-date=23 September 2025 |language=ja}}</ref>
In ''One Piece'', St. Marcus Mars, one of the Five Elders, can take the yōkai-like form of Itsumade.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Aubrey |first1=Dave |title=This Is What One Piece’s Five Elders’ Devil Fruits Are Based On |url=https://geeky.parade.com/comics/one-piece-five-elders-devil-fruits#gid=ci02d87340f00126fc&pid=st-shepherd-ju-peter-the-sand-wyrm |access-date=20 March 2024 |work=Geek Parade |date=18 March 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
==See also== * List of legendary creatures from Japan * Nue
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Mythological and legendary Japanese birds Category:Yōkai