Yao Bikuni, the Mermaid who lived 800 years

Yao Bikuni (Eight-Hundred-Year Nun) A legendary figure from Japanese folklore about a young woman who inadvertently ate the flesh of a ningyo (mermaid) and gained immortality, living for 800 years while retaining her youthful appearance. She wandered throughout Japan for most of her 800 years and serving as a poignant reminder that longevity does not guarantee happiness. The tale explores themes of isolation, the burden of immortality, and the bittersweet nature of outliving all those one loves. Her story has been retold across Japan for centuries, inspiring countless artistic interpretations and adaptations