TEARAI-ONI

Lore

Legends speak of a colossal yokai whose name translates to “the Demon Who Washes His Hands.” Tearai‑oni is often linked to the mighty giant Daitaro‑bo, dwelling in the Shikoku region. He is an immense figure capable of stepping over mountains more than seven miles tall, crossing vast distances in just a few strides.

In certain narratives, Tearai‑oni created mountain ranges by hauling enormous slabs of stone. After a day of labor, he would wade into rivers to wash his hands, bracing his feet against peaks. Whenever he lay down to rest, the sheer weight of his body pressed deep depressions into the earth that later filled with water to become lakes.

Despite the word “oni” in his name, Tearai‑oni is not especially malicious. His defining trait is a powerful compulsion to wash his hands. While not intentionally aggressive, a creature of such size is naturally hazardous; a careless step could crush an unwary traveler or send rocks tumbling from a mountain.