The Ningen is a large bizarre cryptozoological creature that reportedly inhabits the deep, frigid waters surrounding the continent of Antarctica. Said to be common in folklore spread by Japanese fishermen hunting in the area, the ningen, whose name roughly means 'human' in Japanese, has gone from one of the most obscure cryptids to one of the more popular among paranormal enthusiasts, similar to the rise in popularity of the nightcrawlers. The earliest known mentions of the ningen online originate with the now-defunct Japanese online forum site 2Channel, which claims that Japanese research vessels in the area have witnessed the creatures on several occasions.
Appearance[]
According to these 'eyewitnesses', the ningen are enormous cetacean-like creatures with numerous human-like anatomical features. While their bodies are nearly identical to large white whales, their heads are said to be uncannily human-like or occasionally frog-like with large black eyes and enormous slit-like mouths. Often compared to gigantic mermaids, their front flippers are instead replaced by large human-like arms. Some ningen reports allegedly describe them as semiaquatic creatures that possess human-like legs in addition to their arms. They are sometimes said to be nocturnal and the size of the creature varies from 40 to 90 feet.
As of now, there are no real reputable photographs, videos, or even eyewitness accounts. The original 2Channel thread is no longer available to view and the few alleged videos that have surfaced online have been proven to be hoaxes. Given the incredibly recent origin of the first reports on 2Channel, it is incredibly possible, perhaps even likely, that the creature is simply an urban legend. However, if the reports were indeed being honestly reported, it is also possible that a known animal was responsible for the sightings. Antarctica is home to numerous whale species either year-round or temporarily, including the largest animal to ever exist, the blue whale. Other possible culprits could be the humpback whale, southern right whale, and fin whale. The white color could simply be caused by albinism.