| Akateko | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Akateko (赤手児, "red child's hand") |
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First Appearance |
Japanese Folklore |
|
Created by |
Unknown |
Origin[]
The akateko is a yōkai from Japanese folklore, primarily in Aomori Prefecture, with legends also in Kagawa and Fukushima. It appears as the red, disembodied hand of a small child descending from a Japanese honey locust tree, often accompanied by the specter of a beautiful young woman whose presence can mesmerize passersby. While some stories depict the hand violently attacking travelers, most describe it as harmless, intended only to scare. In Kagawa and Fukushima, it may appear in pairs resembling moving feet or legs, possibly representing two parts of the same yōkai. Some theories suggest the akateko might be an illusion created by shape-shifting yōkai like kitsune or tanuki.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Akateko from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.
Notes[]
- Aketeko is one of the Yokai that appear in the episode "First Day of Art School" from the Cartoon Network series We Baby Bears.