Yamawaro – 山童 - [Yokai]

Yamawaro – 山童 -  [Yokai | Kappa]

•About this Yokai: Yamawaro are childish cycloptic yokai which go by many names, This somewhat scruffy looking mountain cyclops is theorized to be “a seasonal form” of Kappa & Garappa which have migrated to the mountains during the autumn equinox. It’s said that when Kappa travel to the mountains in the fall they change into a “Yamawaro” then when spring returns, they migrate back to the rivers and become kappa again. (this migration pattern is different across japan, but most kappa-like yokai are said to tend to do it too!) They become angry when people build in the way of their migration paths and are often blamed for mysterious property damage.

Like Kappa they also love to sumo wrestle, and they dislike horses with a passion. They’re also fairly stinky and love to bathe in peoples tubs, leaving a thick line of rancid smelling grease (like hyosube does.)

Hunters dogs are also said to be afraid of them and will tremble when they’re near, despite all this, they’re a friendly or even helpful yokai: Yamawaro are said to be strong enough to lift fallen trees and are often enlisted by Lumberjacks to help with their work. They are often offered food or sake (they’re particularly fond of Crab, bamboo shoots, Onigiri rice balls and especially Bento boxes.) Don’t try to trick them out of a meal as they have a short temper and are prone to tantrums when they don’t get to eat what they want. (They’ll also run for it if you feed them before the work!)

• History: Yamawaro appear in some of the earliest yokai picture scrolls & encyclopedias; such as Sawaki Suushi's Hyakki Zukan [1737] & Toriyama sekien's famous Gazu Hyakki Yagyo [1776] - These yokai seem to originate from chinese lore, the legends where adapted to japan over time.

[yama-warawa it appears in Gazu Hyakki Yagyo]

[Art sticker by @samkalensky part of my yokai collection of stickers, follow and support for many more!]