Kurote (Japan)

Kurote, meaning black hand, is a monstrous hairy hand that hides in toilets. When someone uses the toilet where it lurks, Kurote reaches up from the hole and strokes their behinds. Up to this point, it is relatively harmless as all it does is startle people.

However, under certain circumstances, Kurote can become far more dangerous. Kurote is not just a hand—it is a towering, nine-foot-tall yokai that can change its size at will and squeeze in and out of toilet bowls! Worse still, Kurote can shapeshift into a human and use this ability to enter people's homes unsuspected.

The true peril lies in Kurote’s vengeful nature. It holds deep grudges against those who retaliate against its groping behavior. Read more about a Japanese folktale about Kurote in Ghosts, Spirits and Paranormal Entities from Asian Folklore and Mythology (Book 2).