Amanojaku
JapaneseYokaiTricksterMind-benderField Notes
Lore
Amanojaku is a small, willful Fae—an obstinate yokai that prefers to work from the seam between decisions. Field notes: it is less a stable form than a disruptive intent; presence manifests as a sudden, narrow cold and a sense that the room has tilted a fraction to one side. Smell: the faint tang of wet paper and mountain pine, as if a shrine had been opened after rain. Sound: a quick, narrow giggle or a reed-flute note played just off the rhythm of conversation. Temperature: a localized chill, the kind that raises the hairs on the neck and makes breath ghost on the air. Watch for tiny, misaligned footprints or objects purposefully placed the wrong way round—small signatures of deliberate contrariness.
Origin: Japanese • Heian-period Japan / Nationwide folklore
Classification: Fae (Trickster)
Field Notes
Observations
- A single, discordant giggle or the sudden reversal of an otherwise ordinary object (spoon turned blade-down, shoes swapped) is the clearest sign.
Encounter Advice
- mischief: Specializes in inversion and temptation: it encourages hidden impulses by whispering contrary counsel, mimics voices to sow doubt, and engineers small, embarrassing reversals that escalate trust into chaos. Its pranks are rarely violent but are designed to make people act against their better judgment.
- interaction: Treat interactions as a transaction with strict terms. Be precise with language—avoid ambiguous phrasing or implied promises. Keep offerings and bargains written and witnessed, use bright light or a mirror to discourage unseen slipping, and never accept its first flattering suggestion. If you must parley, lay out clear rules, an exit clause, and a small, honest compensation.
- offering: A small, neat gift: a wrapped sweet (such as mochi) placed beside an unambiguous written vow, or a clean hand mirror left by a shrine, may placate curiosity without inviting deeper bargains.
Abilities
- Will-ReversalSupernaturally forces a target to perform the exact opposite of their genuine intent, turning honest wishes into contrarian actions.
- Heart-Probing InsightPerceives and exposes hidden desires and fears in a person's heart and uses them to manipulate behavior.
- Provocation EchoAmplifies a small insult or suggestion into mass contrarian behavior among nearby people, causing groups to act against their best interests.
- Child-Corrupting LureWhispers twisted dares and oppositional commands to children, bending innocence into deliberate disobedience.
Weaknesses
- Shinto Ofuda (talismans)Sacred ofuda affixed to thresholds or on a person sharply reduce its ability to invert wills and can force it to retreat.
- Sutra Recitation (Buddhist chant)Clear, sustained chanting of sutras by clergy disrupts its manipulations and can banish it from a household for days.
- Mirror of TruthA polished hand-mirror that reflects a person's true intent causes the Amanojaku's inversion to falter and can pain or disorient it.
- True-Name InvocationSpeaking its true name (when known) aloud binds it briefly and prevents it from speaking directly to its victim.