Ningyo 人魚

Ningyo - Mermaid. Ningyo (人魚, "human fish") as the name suggests, is a creature with both human and fish-like features, described in various pieces of Japanese literature

Though often translated as "mermaid", the term is technically not gender-specific and may include the "mermen".The earliest records of the ningyo attested in written Japanese sources are freshwater beings allegedly captured in the 7th century, documented later in the Nihon Shoki.But subsequent examples are usually seawater beings.

In later medieval times , it was held to be a sign of ill omen, and its beaching was blamed for subsequent bloody battles or calamity.