Iju (Japan)

Iju are large, ape-like beasts that live in forests and mountainous regions. Despite their appearance, they are harmless, and sightings of them are rare.  

One of the earliest recorded stories about an iju appears in Hokuetsuseppu, a book from the Edo period that describes the daily lives of people in Echigo province, a region known for its long, snowy winters. A story in this book described an encounter with an iju by a porter named Takesuke, in which the beast helped haul a huge load for Takesuke in return for the food that the porter shared with the beast.