HITOTSUME-KOZO

Lore

Hitotsume Kozō are small, one-eyed yokai with childlike features and an impish temperament. Found in folktales all across Japan, they typically have shaved heads, wear monks’ robes (often appearing like tiny Buddhist novices), and may sometimes carry prayer beads or wear a wide-brimmed straw hat that conceals their face. Their most striking traits are their long tongues and single, oversized eye. In some accounts, that solitary eye can even glow in the dark.

Despite their startling appearance, Hitotsume Kozō rarely pose a real threat. Rather, they take great delight in suddenly popping out of nowhere to spook unsuspecting travelers, earning them a reputation as relatively harmless prankster yokai. They appear to relish nothing more than giving passersby a fright before vanishing.