Biron - びろ～ん - [Yokai]

Biro~n – "びろ~ん"

•About this Yokai:

A mysterious ghost-like yokai with a stretchy constancy like jelly: it likes to tickle peoples necks with its thin tail. – it once tried to transform into the shape of a buddha by chanting a magic spell: “Biro! Biro! Biro~n!” but it failed, so its now stretched out and kinda droopy. Disappears if chant that, or if you add salt!

•History & Early appearances:

It's earliest named appearance was "Ichiban kuikui Nihon yokai zukan" or "The Most Wonderful Illustrated Book of Japanese Yokai" (1972) by Arifumi Sato. – When they where asked for a source, they where unable to remember it. - In the same book it appears next to a yokai resembling Gotaimen, but there its called "Haradashi' for that reason, its often said this yokai was created by the author, however the exact truth is unknown - There are earlier yokai that resemble it for sure, but no one has found the exact origin for both the story & spell. – The same book also mentions that because it was trying to mimic buddha or that its another name for the mock buddha yokai: "nuribotoke" -

Biron was likely created by Sato (1939-1999), who illustrated & produced yokai encyclopedias & stories in the 1970's & 1980's (of somewhat dubious historical accuracy! - For example, they said that the famous painting of "Kronos eating his child" was actually picture of a 'Portuguese cannibal god'... ) Never the less, their books where beautifully illustrated and are now quite hard to find. (Look them up sometime!)

See also: Gotaimen, Haradashi, Nuribotoke.

Sticker Art by @Samkalensky (yo thats me!) - Part of my Night parade of 100 Demons - Yokai & Japanese folklore sticker collection, weather-resistant 4" Glossy sticker. Check my shop & follow @samkalensky for many more!