Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: 油すまし (Abura Sumashi)
Category: Yōkai, Dwarf
The Myth
The Abura Sumashi is a strange, squat figure said to haunt the remote mountain paths of Kumamoto. Its most striking feature is its enormous head, rough and misshapen like a stone or a large potato. Beneath it is a short humanoid body dressed in a coat woven from straw, giving the creature the appearance of a bizarre mountain traveler.
It is rarely seen. The Abura Sumashi is said to remain deep in the mountains, particularly around the secluded passes of southern Japan where wild tea grows. Travelers may sometimes encounter one without warning, appearing seemingly from nowhere before disappearing back into the wilderness.
The most famous Abura Sumashi is associated with the Kusazumigoe Pass. The creature has a peculiar habit of making its presence known without necessarily revealing itself. An elderly woman might walk along the pass with her grandchildren and mention that an Abura Sumashi once lived there. A voice from the mountains can then suddenly answer that it still lives there. Only on rare occasions does the creature actually step out before those who have heard it.
The name Abura Sumashi means “oil presser,” connecting the yōkai to the traditional production of oil from tea seeds. Producing the oil was difficult and time-consuming, making it a valuable commodity. According to the legend surrounding the creature, thieves who stole oil and escaped into the mountains could avoid punishment during their lifetime, but they could not escape it forever. Their spirits were believed to return as Abura Sumashi, condemned to haunt the mountains as punishment for their crimes.
Sources
“Aburasumashi.” Yokai.com: The Japanese Yokai Encyclopedia. Accessed October 4, 2026.
https://yokai.com/aburasumashi/