Zushinezumi

was a Rat yōkai who owned a shrine that was able to release numerous rat demons for hunting purposes.

History
Zushinezumi was in the dwelling of some humans and eating their bones after letting his rat minions eat the flesh. He was suddenly approached by Hakudōshi. Zushinezumi thought that he too lived in the house that he was in. He was prepared to devour him, but his head was cut off when Kohaku threw his kusarigama at him. Hakudōshi then ordered Kohaku to take the small shrine that was strapped to Zushinezumi's back and warned him not to open it. This was all part of his plan to lure out the miko Kikyō.

Personality
Zushinezumi has a strong hunger for human bones.

Physical description
Zushinezumi appears as a human-sized grey rat that walks on its hind legs. He has four thick whiskers on each side of his face. A notable feature is a third red eye in the middle of his forehead. It is large and more round than the other two.

Outfit
He wears a white kosode and hakama with a sleeveless blue top that extends down to his legs. He has a rope that he wears as a sash across his waist. He wears a beaded necklace around him. Zushinezumi carries his shrine over with back with two straps that are attached to it.

Powers & Abilities
The rat demons from his shrine (also called Zushinezumi) are almost invincible. They cannot be killed when sliced or cut and just multiply instead. The effective countermeasures against them are Miroku's Kazaana, or using a mayose tree that attracts and purifies them. The tree requires a very strong spiritual power.

Manga vs. Anime

 * In the manga, Zushinezumi is killed immediately after Hakudōshi makes himself known to him. In the anime, he is killed after attempting to eat Hakudōshi.

Trivia

 * Zushinezumi has the shortest appearance in the manga out of all the noteworthy characters, appearing in only six panels in Chapter 327.
 * Like Tesso, Zushinezumi's character and abilities may have been inspired by the vengeful spirit of the same name. That Tesso had once been a monk named Raigō whose vengeful spirit took the form of a giant rat and summoned a swarm of rats to wreak his vengeance upon Enryaku-ji, a rival monastery on Mt. Hiei.

Media appearances
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Manga

 * Chapter 327

Anime
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 * Episode 158
 * Episode 159

Zushinezumi Zushinezumi 厨子鼠