Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: 山颪, やまおろし, Mountain Wind
Category: Object
The Myth
Yama Oroshi is a tsukumogami, a supernatural being formed from an ordinary object that has become old or neglected. It originates from a metal grater that has been improperly cared for and grown too dull to grate food. The discarded utensil develops a body, while the grater’s blunt teeth protrude from its head like the wild spines of a porcupine.
The creature’s name contains a double pun. In Japanese, oroshi refers to a grater, forming part of the name Yama Oroshi. The name also resembles yamaarashi, the Japanese word for a porcupine. This wordplay reflects the creature’s appearance, transforming a familiar kitchen implement into a spiny, animal-like yokai.
Sources
“Yamaoroshi.” Yokai.com. https://yokai.com/yamaoroshi/