Tradition / Region: Japan (northern Nagasaki Prefecture, northwestern Saga Prefecture)
Alternate Names: Orabi Soute, Yama Orabi
Category: Mountain dweller / yokai
The Myth
Orabi Souke is a mountain-dwelling monster said to exist in the mountainous regions of northern Nagasaki Prefecture and northwestern Saga Prefecture. It is not commonly seen, but its presence is known through encounters and sounds heard deep in the mountains.
According to local belief, if a person encounters Orabi Souke and attacks it, the creature will immediately retaliate. For this reason, it is feared as a being that responds directly to aggression. People are warned not to strike at it or provoke it, as doing so invites danger.
In Yame County in the Chikugo region, a similar creature is known as Yama Orabi. Though related in name and behavior, Orabi Souke is considered distinct from Yamabiko, also called Yama Hibiki, which is associated with echoes rather than physical retaliation.
The name Orabi Souke is partially explained through language. The word orabu means “to shout,” suggesting a connection to loud cries or calls heard in the mountains. The meaning of souke is unclear, and some sources record the name instead as Orabi Soute, leaving uncertainty as to which form is correct.
Beyond these details, Orabi Souke remains a little-seen mountain being, known primarily through regional accounts and warnings passed down among those who travel or work in the mountains.