The Hibagon
In 1970, people near a mountain in western Japan began reporting an ape-like creature walking in the fields.
What was reported
On 20 July 1970, a man driving near Saijo, a town in northern Hiroshima Prefecture, said he saw an ape-like creature walking upright on a mountainside near Mount Hiba. Within days, others reported similar sightings: a creature about 1.5 metres tall, covered in dark fur, with a large triangular face.
Sightings continued until about 1974, and the creature, named the Hibagon after the mountain, became a national sensation. The town set up a 'Hibagon office' to handle reports.
Explanations offered
No specimen or clear photograph was obtained. Suggested explanations include escaped pet monkeys or a large Japanese macaque, and later sightings may have been encouraged by the publicity. The Hibagon remains a local mascot.
- When
- Sightings 1970 – 1974
- Where
- Mount Hiba, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
- Witnesses
- Residents of the Saijo area
- Status
- Unconfirmed
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