Japanese Marten Mythology

Azuki-tori no Tanuki

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Azuki-tori Tanuki, Bean-Washing Tanuki
Category: Marten

The Myth

Azuki-tori no Tanuki is a mysterious tanuki associated with an old storehouse near the waterfront in Tsuchido, Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture. In the past, the area had a stone-paved landing place, with large storehouses lining the coast to the west. Every night, a strange, sharp shari, shari sound could be heard near the buildings. It resembled neither the scurrying of mice nor the noise of weasels, and the locals found it deeply unsettling.

One night, a young man passing by heard the familiar sound and realized it seemed to come from inside a storehouse. Determined to discover its source despite his fear, he shouted loudly toward the building. The sound immediately stopped, and a round creature burst out of the storehouse. Moving quickly on its short legs, it ran toward Mount Senkoji. The young man watched it closely enough to recognize it as a tanuki.

After this encounter, people came to believe that the strange scraping noise was made by the tanuki sneaking into the storehouse to steal azuki beans. Even after its identity became known, the sound continued to frighten the locals. Whenever the sharp shari, shari noise echoed through the darkness, children hurried home.

Sources

“Azuki-tanuki.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010655099.html

Shirotokkuri

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Shiro Tokkuri, 白徳利
Category: Marten

The Myth

Shirotokkuri is a shape-shifting tanuki known for transforming into a white sake bottle. In this form, it rolls along the ground, attracting the attention of anyone who comes across it. However, whenever someone tries to grab the bottle and stop it, it simply rolls away again.

No matter how persistently a person attempts to catch it, Shirotokkuri keeps rolling out of reach, making it impossible to capture.

Sources

“Shiro Tokkuri.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010654408.html

Dobin Korogashi

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Tobin Korogashi, 土瓶転がし
Category: Marten

The Myth

Dobin Korogashi is a mysterious phenomenon associated with a dense thicket of bamboo and trees on the border between Shitami and Hara villages in Hachihonmatsu, Kamo District, Hiroshima Prefecture. Those who passed through the area late at night were said to hear the sound of an earthen teapot tumbling and clattering, making a frightening gacha, gacha noise. People believed that a creature called the Dobin Korogashi lurked in the thicket.

The strange sounds inspired fear among local residents. Children were afraid to take errands along the road in the evening, while even adults found the path unsettling after dark. The creature’s true identity, however, may have been less supernatural than people imagined. One explanation suggests that a weasel had made its nest in a dumping ground for discarded pottery and produced the clattering sounds when startled by approaching footsteps and fleeing.

Sources

“Dobinkoro.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010654264.html