An enigmatic being, though its variations each have their distinct forms. Regardless, it likely cares not how it is perceived, simply ready for more hapless humans to find their way to it.

Blizzard-bound beasts, a whirling creature that adds to the danger of being outside during such a heavy snowstorm.

A creature possessing a strange life cycle; spontaneously generated in the form of a worm by rotting mud, transforming into a fish when water levels return to normal, then quickly rotting away itself.

Child of the Fuath, horrid water spirits. A hazy thing lacking a defined body.

Mysterious young women yokai. While she was supposedly found along Usui Pass, its unclear what exactly she may do.

Half-equine women. Potentially wealth hoarders, potentially the result of a goddess' vengeful curse.

A mountain-dwelling beast, zheng are said to be ferocious big cats resembling leopards, though other than its appearance, voice, and nature little else is known about it.

Mysterious critters whose sole existence seems to be the nocturnal delivery of maple flavour to maple sap that's being tapped. They work in the crisp night air of early spring, the tree branches still bare.

A haven for doves and a bane of dragons. Peridexion trees were used as an allegory for the Christian church.

A man among rats, in death or in form. A gruesomely tragic tale in terms of ghost stories, or a classic urban legend of hiding a child that was born with an inhuman form.

A friendly face carrying an endless flow of water or sake. Among tsukumogami, kameosa are among the few who do not begrudge their owners.

Spirits, omen-bringers, and even gods. A vanishing hitchhiker can often be a spine-chilling tale, though more somber or hopeful results are theoretically possible.

Dakhanavar, the vampire formerly known for guarding the mountains of Ultmish Alto-tem. It is said that he never returned after that fateful trick.

A monster with such inconsistent descriptions, this particular illustration vaguely based on the Challicum Bunyip with some mixed bunyip features. Bunyips make various freshwater regions, such as billabongs, rivers, swamps, and more their home.

...and with the 525th entry, we're officially past our backlog! While this does mean we'll be shifting to only one post per each Tuesday and Thursday, its exciting that we've made it to this point after hopping to Bluesky last year. Thanks for sticking with me this far, and here's to the future!

A strange man of Maine lumberjack tale. Seemingly neutral by nature, though he's liable to be swayed by an offering of good whiskey.

The accursed mula sem cabeça. Flames burst out from these mules' necks, accompanied by their neighing and wailing.

A large-eyed man responsible for the sound of azuki beans being washed by rivers.

A disastrous portent, not an uncommon feature in the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

The slayer of crocodiles, a hydrus. These aquatic serpents would often be conflated with the legendary Hydra or the dropsy-inflicting hydros by bestiary illuminators.

Limestone cavern spirits, pale old things with red, luminescent eyes.

A blood-soaked monster, a creature that haunts childhood, Raw Head and Bloody Bones. A classic bogeyman who hunts unruly children, thus promoting good habits and behavior.

Forest vegetation that inflict confusion and wandering on travelers who interact with it. The otterkraut and atterkreutich varieties in particular seem to have the added effect of attracting adders toward the victim who pocketed some it. They'll be chased by serpents until they dispel the effect.

The flipper of pillows. Makuragaeshi like to flip people's pillows while they're fast asleep.

The strange bottlefoot. In some cases, it seems its foot is depicted as literal bottles.

The death-headed beast, catoblepas are buffalo-like monsters with lethal gaze and breath.

The enigmatic sugar bundle. A rather unusual encounter with an ultimately harmless, and possibly even a bit humorous, result.

A bubbly friend to fish, a bait robber ruin any fisherman's day by making a fishing spot useless for their fishing session.

An intriguing legend in Europe for a time, from Manchester Square's Pig-Faced Lady to unfounded rumours about the very real, not-at-all pig-headed, reclusive philanthropist Griselda Steevens.

An eerie school mystery, although there seem to be no stories of her causing any serious harm.

Waterfall-dwelling spirits. Despite the crashing water, hantu bandan appear to stay perfectly affixed in their chosen floating spot.

The frightful Muhnochwa, a flying thing that would heavily wound people's faces and necks with cuts and bruises.

A towering Haitian bogey. A merciless being who claims anyone he can find outside at midnight. The entire hour could almost be said to be his domain.

The naturally clumsy critter of the forest trails. The humpdumple's unceasing teeters and totters seem to be responsible for the nature of bumpy walking paths.

A miniature fellow, presiding in his overview of the household from his seat upon the hearth's empty hook. However, after the cross-shaped witches' mark started being engraved upon the hook to ward off witches, old Wag-at-the-Wa' was repulsed as well. It seems he never returned.

An enigma among the "Three Great Demons of Tosa". Her peculiarities are unknown, but perhaps it is better to leave her alone...

A feline spirit transformed into a poison-like gu curse. Eating away at its victim's organs and strength, ultimately bringing all the victim owns to the sorcerer that killed and cast it.

A monster that appears to punish naughty children. Regardless of how unclear the actions of the being are, dragging victims behind paintings is quite horrific to consider.

Field spirits that lurk, preparing to pluck away a stray child for its meal. It seems that on occasion these wolf-shaped spirits are synonymous with werewolves.

The salt-sprinkling wamp, as described in the Yarns of the Big Woods. To discern a wamp's presence is to know where a good number of deer will be.

Another UFO sighting of the 1960s, the blazing humanoid encountered in the woods of Felixstowe.

An old fortune-telling kettle set over where its head might be. Boiling water in its head, this yokai can be used to peek ahead.

A bizarre voracious monster created by an unknown author.

A moderately small wind-riding beast that is easy to kill, although there's a good chance that death won't last long depending on how it happened. When caught it seems it will beg for its life in a timid manner.

A Swedish alien encounter. Rather strange creatures, the struggle to escape their grips was described like fighting against a "magnetic dough".

A wriggling, flapping monster. This "spook" alighted the skies around Crawfordsville for a time in September, 1891.

Rose to fame from 1933 to the late 1940s. Referred to himself as extra extra clever, and made wild claims such as how he'd split the atom or how the sight of him causes a victim to faint, petrify, mummify, and turn to stone or a pillar of salt. Also known for standard poltergeist antics.

Going a bit outside the box with this entry, covering more of a phenomenon than a beast or being. A strange nocturnal occurrence. As with many urban legends, the are dozens of variations with their own particularities.

A swift predator that seemed to carry its progeny atop its back at all times. Supposedly it was hunted for the warmth of its pelt.

A statuesque bestial dragon that serves the Buddha. Interestingly, among the nine sons of the dragon, Suanni is one who has more than one distinct favorite activity.