Azukiarai

Azukiarai (小豆洗い, "azuki bean washing"), or Azukitogi (小豆とぎ, "azuki bean grinding"), is a ghostly phenomenon in Japanese folklore, in which a mysterious noise that sounds like azuki beans being washed or ground is heard. It usually occurs near a river or other body of water. Sometimes the creature or spirit responsible amuses itself by singing "azuki togou ka, hito totte kuou ka? shoki shoki." ("Will I grind my azuki beans, or will I get a person to eat? shoki shoki."), and anyone who approaches will inevitably fall into the water.

The azukiarai as depicted in Takehara Shunsen's Ehon Hyaku Monogatari.

While the perpetrator is seldom seen, he is often described as a short-statured man of grotesque appearance with a large balding head, crooked teeth, thin moustache, large bulging yellow eyes, wearing ragged clothes and bent over a pail washing azuki beans. Azukiarai is sometimes blamed on a tanuki (raccoon dog) or weasel.

References

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