In Japanese mythology, the Nozuchi or Nodzuchi is a spirit of the earth that is found in open plains hiding in the shadows of the plants and trees. While it is not an evil or mischievous spirit, it is wild and uncontrollable, thus it will sometimes bring harm to humans it sees as intruders or threats. Its name means "God of the plains." It is also another name for the serpent monster Tsuchinoko, which is now seen more as a cryptid that takes the form of a fat snake.
As Kayanohime or Kaya-no-hime it is a goddess of the fields and grass born from Izanami. Together with Ohoyamatsumi they would bear eight children.
"A type of supernatural creature, resembling a headless, hammer-like snake. They attack humans by rolling, and can also climb uphill. They are sometimes identified with Kaya-no-hime. Nozuchi are counted among the 35 children of the Japanese deities Izangi and Izanami. Nozuchi are also sometimes identified with the modern-day tsuchinoko."
—Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE compendium
Nozuchi can be contracted in Suginami and Shinjuku Babel's docks. Massive Nozuchi are a reoccurring theme as both event-based player demons and bosses within the Denshi Kairo instance and the gold-level Nakano Stone Site instance, appearing alongside Genbu.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
"A spirit from Japanese myth, whose name means "god of the fields". Though not innately evil, its temper may cause it to attack humans from behind a tree or bushes."
—Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey compendium
Shin Megami Tensei IV
Nozuchi can be found in Shinjuku. It can teach Flynn the Critical Wave, Mazio, and Rakukaja skills through its Demon Whisper. Flynn must have the Demolingual App in order to converse with Nozuchi. A Nozuchi may also give Flynn the "Cu Chulainn's Training" Challenge Quest when spoken to.
Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse
Nozuchi appears in the south entrance and west entrance areas of Shinjuku as well as the northern areas of the Fairy Forest, past the central gate. It can teach the Rakukaja, Mazio and Critical Wave skills to Nanashi during Demon Whisper. Nozuchi gains a bonus to any support and Electricity skills learned during fusion.
Devil Children Fire/Ice Book
Nozuchi is one of the demons given as a prize for beating Eligor's quiz in Fire Book. In Ice Book Nozuchi is a boss faced in the Huge Floodgate, where he plans on flooding the Water Angels Town to kill the inhabitants in the name of his master Zebul. Upon defeat his body transforms to reveal his true form. His last words being that they shall continue fighting until everything is destroyed.
Devil Survivor 2
"A snake spirit said to live in the mountains in ancient Japanese scriptures. It is believed to govern lines of energy. It is a god of wilderness with a large mouth, but no eyes or nose. It is not evil, but has a violent temper and sometimes attacks humans that cross its path."
