Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Yamajiji, Satorikai, 山地乳
Category: Monkey
The Myth
The Yamachichi is a monkey-like yokai that inhabits the secluded mountains of northeastern Japan. It has a pointed mouth and peculiar, sucking lips suited to its unusual way of feeding. Yamachichi are believed to originate from bats: a long-lived bat transforms into a Nobusuma, which eventually becomes a Yamachichi after many more years. Because of its resemblance to the Satori, a supernatural being associated with the mountains, the Yamachichi is sometimes called Satorikai.
These creatures descend from the mountains late at night and enter houses where people are sleeping. They approach their victims and use their pointed lips to suck the breath from their mouths, draining away their life force. Once the victim’s breath has been stolen, the Yamachichi taps them on the chest before fleeing into the darkness. A person whose breath is taken in this way is said to die the following day.
However, the Yamachichi’s power can be reversed if its attack is interrupted. If the sleeping person awakens or another witness catches the creature stealing someone’s breath, the Yamachichi immediately flees. Rather than dying, the intended victim is said to have their lifespan greatly extended. The creature is known primarily from an Edo-period collection of supernatural tales, and little else is known about its origins beyond its association with remote mountain regions.
Sources
“Yamachichi.” Yokai.com. https://yokai.com/yamachichi/