Azuki arai are mysterious youkai that only can be found in remote forests found all over Japan. They have many nicknames in different regions, a common nickname is azukitogi. These youkai live deep in the mountains where humans rarely go, and spend their time near streams. Very few actual sightings have been recorded, but they are said to be short and squat, with large round eyes and an overall look like Buddhist monks. They appeared cheerful with a silly grin with a goofy grin and big three-fingered hands. In fact, Azuki arai is more often heard than seen. Their main activity seems to be washing red beans by the river while singing a scary song mixed with the “shoki shoki” sound of beans being washed in a basket:
Azuki araou ka? Hito totte kuou ka? (shoki shoki)
Will I wash my red beans, or will I catch a human to eat? (shoki shoki)
Despite singing such scary, terrifying songs, the Azuki arai are in fact a very timid, timid creature that does no harm to humans.
Passers-by who hear the singing of azuki arai often slip and fall into the river. The noise scared the yokai and fled immediately; they are known to be shy, and do all they can to avoid being seen. One of their special abilities is to imitate the sounds of nature and animals and use it as a way to hide. Because of their elusiveness, spotting an azuki arai is said to bring good luck.
📚 Explore more of the Mystical Creatures series here: Dive into the Enchanted Realms of Mythology
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