Interesting fact:

Originally a Chinese myth, the Kakutaku creature made its way to Japan in ancient times, appearing first atop a mountain in the Toyama Prefecture, informing a local resident that a deadly plague would sweep through the area in the next few years. The beast said that if its own image was used as a talisman, the area would be saved. The creature was then adopted as a talisman to ward off disease ever since and worshipped as a guardian of herbal medicine. Nice work, Absol. Nice work.