What has eight heads, eight tails and has a body large enough to span eight valleys? Only the most fearsome creature from Japanese mythology, Yamata no Orochi (yamata meaning split into eight, orochi meaning a huge monstrous snake).

Being a dragon, Orochi breathes fire - not just from one head, but all eight of its heads. According to the legend, Yamata-no-Orochi swung by the Izumo Province every year to eat young girls. Finally, it became Kushi-nada-hime's turn – lucky number eight after her unfortunate sisters. But storm god Susa-no-O didn't stand for it.

In return for  Kushi-nada-hime's hand in marriage, he slayed the beast by spiking its drink with super-strong sake before turning it into snakey confetti and saving the day. Wedding bells and serpent chunks all round!