Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Kijimunā, Sēma, Bunagaya
Category: Fairy
The Myth
Kijimunā are small elfin beings that live among the banyan trees of the Okinawan and wider Ryukyu Islands. They are about the height of a human child and have wild, thick, bright red hair and reddish skin. They wear skirts made from grass and move by hopping rather than walking. Although they retain a youthful, childlike appearance throughout their lives, adult males are described as having notably large testicles. Kijimunā live in family groups much like humans, marry, raise children, and sometimes even marry into human families.
They are skilled fishermen who live almost entirely on seafood. Kijimunā fish along the shores and are particularly talented divers, using their abilities to catch their favorite food: fish heads, especially those of the double-lined fusilier. They have an unusual fondness for fish eyes, with a preference for the left eye over the right, and Okinawans traditionally attribute fish washed ashore without their eyes to hungry Kijimunā. They have several strange dislikes as well. They hate chickens and cooking pots, are disgusted by people passing gas, and above all fear and despise octopuses, avoiding them whenever possible.
Kijimunā can be helpful toward humans, especially fishermen. They may help people catch fish or perform other useful services in exchange for a cooked meal. A friendship with one can last for an entire lifetime, with the Kijimunā returning repeatedly to visit its human friend and even spending holidays with the family. But their kindness can quickly turn to hatred if they are mistreated. Cutting down a banyan tree inhabited by a Kijimunā is one of the surest ways to provoke it. An angered Kijimunā may kill livestock, sabotage a fishing boat so that it sinks far out at sea, trap people inside hollow trees, press down upon sleeping people’s chests, or extinguish lights during the night. Once a Kijimunā has been made an enemy, its hatred is said to be impossible to overcome.
Sources
“Kijimunaa.” Yokai.com: The Japanese Yokai Encyclopedia. Accessed October 4, 2026. https://yokai.com/kijimunaa/