User blog:JaFoReCe/About Akkor-kamuy

There are few things I want to point out regarding this entity.

At-kor-kamuy [アッコロカムイ/大章魚] is a mythological monster from the Ainu legends literally meaning “deity (kamuy) with tentacles (at-kor)” in Ainu language. The origin of At-kor-kamuy, according to Ainu people’s oral tradition from Toyo-ura Town [豊浦町] in Abuta District [虻田郡] (Hokkaido), tells how a giant spider called Yauskep [ヤウシケプ] emerged from earth and began destroying the villages. Upon hearing the villager’s cry for help, the Ainu deities appointed Repun-kamuy [レプンカムイ] to solve the problem; deity of sea/ocean in the Ainu Mythology. In order to save the villagers, Repun-kamuy drew Yauskep into the Gulf of Funka [噴火湾] (today’s Gulf of Uchiura [内浦湾]) and transformed the giant spider into a giant octopus. Since that day on, Yauskep was referred to as At-kor-kamuy instead.

(Source: “Mukashi-banashi, Hokkaido” [昔話・北海道] (1970) by Shoshi Morino [森野 正子] (n/a))

Now, At-kor-kamuy isn't really subjected for worshipping in Shintō. Takoyakushi [蛸薬師] (or Nadeyakushi [なで薬師]) mentioned in the article isn't actually At-kor-kamuy nor an "octopus deity" of any sort, but is an interpretation of Yakushi-nyorai [薬師如来] invented by an abbot named Saichō [最澄] (766-822). This came about because like an octopus's regenerative ability, Yakushi-nyorai is a widely worshipped Buddhist deity who's said to cure illness of all sorts.

(Source: "Tako" [蛸] (1994) by Yūtarō Tone [刀禰勇太郎] (n/a)