Otoroshi - おとろし - [Yokai]

Otoroshi - おとろし - [Yokai]

• About this Yokai: Otoroshi is a beast that invisibly lurks on top of torii gates (acting similarly to a Komainu.) - It leaps down on wicked people who don't bow or those who selfishly pray only for their own convenience. - Its name is often said to be a corruption of the word "osoroshii" - meaning "Scary."

• Early appearances & History : Otoroshi appears in some of the earliest yokai picture scrolls such as Hyakkai Zukan (1737, Sawaki Suushi) & various Bakemono E (化物絵巻) & most notably in Gazu Hyakki Yagyo (1776, Toriyama Sekien. ) where he first appeared on top of a tori-gate. 

- In "Yuki no Idewaji" (雪の出羽路, 1814) an Edo Period travel diary by Sugae Masumi, there is also the following story:

"If you pass by the Sae no Kamizaka at evening among other times in a leisurely stroll with a light drizzle and thick clouds, there would be a man who meets with a woman, the woman would meet with the man, and nurarihyon, otoroshi, nozuchi, among others would go on a hyakki yagyō, so some call it the bakemonozaka (monster hill)"

[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! (Please note: 3D torigate is not included ⛩ however the Torii Gate sticker (3rd pic) is optional!)]