Record of the Kikuchi River, Higo Province, Seventh Month of Keichō Eleven.

On the 12th night of the seventh month, the shores of Higo, the Coastal Magistrate reported seeing a sea dragon spiralling from the waters to the sky. He reported that amidst the dark clouds and thunder, he saw it come ashore. Thankfully, the storm did not cause any damage of note. But the constant rains had swollen the river. Its banks were about to burst.

Yet, it is not the threat of the flood that I record. The fishermen reported something in the water. A floating rock at first. Soon that floating rock took shape. Farmer Jirō saw the thing take his cow and drag it to the river. Its head was like that of a dragon, larger than the cow itself. Over a period of two weeks, three cows had gone missing. Fishermen would see the thing surface, encircle their rafts and disappear to the depths. Since that day, they refused to cast their nets. Priests were called. Surely some sin of theirs must have called the dragon's wrath? Rice and sake, blessed with prayer, were left on the banks as an offering. Forgive whatever wrong the humble villagers may have done to deserve your presence. Accept the apology and go back whence you came.

The matter had to be brought to Lord Kāto's attention when twenty villagers demanded action. Farmer Gorō's daughter, Yumi, not yet six years of age, taken by the beast. It was not just cattle anymore; a life had been taken.

Lord Kāto ordered that the child be found, and the beast with her. Two days later, in the morning sun, it was seen. Not the child, but the creature, with its monstrous mouth open as a warning.

Green scales, five ken in length. Teeth like those in paintings. Neither advancing nor retreating. No fish, serpent or beast known to our province resembles it.

Yet, the creature disappeared with the summer rains, gone back with the sea dragon that had brought it to the shores of Higo.

No further account survives.