The Bean Washer by the River
Walking by a river at night in old Japan, you might hear the sound of beans being washed, swish, swish, and a voice singing: shall I wash beans, or shall I eat a person?
What was reported
The azukiarai, 'bean washer', is a yōkai of Japanese folklore, told about in many parts of the country. It's heard rather than seen: by rivers and streams after dark, people hear a rhythmic swishing, like someone rinsing azuki beans in a basket.
Sometimes a voice sings along: 'Shall I wash my azuki beans, or shall I catch a person and eat them?' People who go to look find no one, and those who aren't careful slip into the water.
Explanations offered
The sound may come from water running over pebbles, or from insects or small animals by the stream. The azukiarai is a warning about rivers at night, and is often drawn as a small, smiling old man.
- When
- Told for centuries
- Where
- Niigata, Japan
- Witnesses
- Japanese folklore
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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