Nuribotoke

demon · Japan · East Asia and Pacific

Nuribotoke is a Japanese yōkai appearing as a living Buddhist monk statue with blackened teeth, a long lolling tongue, and an angry face. It manifests to those who misuse temples or neglect worship, cursing the disrespectful or teaching them to show proper reverence for sacred places. The figure embodies a warning against improper religious practice.

Open in the interactive archive →