Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Hīhī Saru, ヒーヒ猿
Category: Monkey
The Myth
The Hīhīzaru is a mysterious supernatural creature from the Mitsu District of Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Little is known about its appearance or origins, and its reputation rests primarily on its disturbing influence over the sick.
According to local accounts, the Hīhīzaru attaches itself to ill people and causes them to become insensitive. Those afflicted by the creature lose their normal sensitivity, although the precise nature and extent of this condition are not described. Beyond this association with illness and diminished sensation, little information about the creature has survived.
Sources
“Hee-hi Monkey.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1050617498.html