Shirakone

From The Otherkin Community

A shirakone (the plural is also "shirakone") is a creature from Japanese folklore. It is not altogether well-known in the West, or even in Asia, though references are made to them in various sources. These range from the poetry of obscure writers during the Edo period even further back to The Tale of Genji and various pre-classical Shinto writings. In some cases, ghost stories and folk tales talk of shirakone without mentioning them by this name; it is hypothesized that they had a variety of colloquial names in various villages and communities. Those in the Japanese Otherkin community that identify as shirakone informally settled on shirakone as the name to use going forward.

Shirakone were said to be the result of offspring between tengu and tigers (sometimes other large cats, depending on the legend.) Regardless, they were thought to be big cats that possessed superior intelligence and, most importantly, walked upright on their hind legs. They ranged in size and appeareance in their descriptions, including everything from child-size cats that were cute and friendly to villagers up to hulking beasts that brooded in the forests, stalking their prey ruthlessly. Several notable archealogical studies have unearthed skeletons that may belong to shirakone, but these are typically dismissed as being "leopards or panthers with unusually strong hind legs" or something of the sort, dimissing the possibility that the creatures may have walked upright.

Those who identify as shirakone often suspect that others who might be shirakone misidentify themselves as kitsune, as the two may possibly have shared memories, dreams, etc., as well as exhibit a strong spiritual connection with Japan or a fascination with Asia in general.

Common traits of shirakone :

• Almost certainly (but not always) feeling a strong spiritual connection to Japan or other places in Asia, as if they were "meant to be born there" instead of where they are now. Likely to have dreams/memories of their former or true homeland.
• Sharing some potentially feline characteristics, such as noctural behavior (being a "night person") or feeling uncomfortable in large crowds.
• Intensely loyal and protective of friends and loved ones, though they may be few in number. Likely to have a small number of very close friends than a large number of ones who don't know them well.
• Highly sensitive to the thoughts and emotions of others, perhaps even to the point of possible psychic abilities. Likely to feel premonitions or have meaningful dreams.
• Highly introverted and self-aware, and likely to feel unhappy or lonely often. Shirakone were traditionally lone wandering creatures and were not welcome in most towns in folklore, and shirakone kin might get these feelings as well.
• Shirakone, even the friendliest among them, were thought to bring bad luck to the villages they visit. Though this may be seen as an old superstition, it is possible that misfortune befalls those close to you.
• Not many Otherkin identify as shirakone in the West at this time, but that number is steadily growing as more and more people share their stories in public forums, helping others recognize their past life memories as that of shirakone.