Anakuma

Anakuma is a term that appears in Japanese-language media and folklore as a proper name in various, unrelated contexts. It does not have a single, widely accepted definition or canonical history, and its meaning depends on the source. In many fictional works, anakuma is used as the name of a demon, spirit, or creature. Because there is no unified canon, the creature’s appearance, powers, and role vary from title to title.

There is no established scholarly tradition defining anakuma as a specific folkloric figure; if the term appears in regional myths, it is generally as part of a broader, local tradition of yōkai or demons, and may be a modern coinage or a variant of a more common term rather than a fixed creature. In some cases, anakuma may also function as a place name or a personal name within a story or in fictional settings, again without implying a uniform set of attributes.

Usage notes: When encountering the term, readers should identify the exact source to understand how anakuma is defined there. Related terms include akuma, meaning demon, and various terms for supernatural beings in Japanese folklore.