Hyousube

The hyousube is a small, bald, humanoid creature with pale pinkish skin, prominent eyes with heavy red lids, and a wide mouth displaying visible teeth. It has thin, sparse hair growing from its cheeks and a hairy, shaggy chest and abdomen. Its arms are outstretched to the sides with spindly, clawed fingers, and its legs are bent in a slight dance-like posture with clawed feet. To its right, the edge of a large, rounded, green-toned rock partially enters the frame.

The hyousube is a yōkai from Japanese folklore, often associated with water environments, specifically said to inhabit riverbeds or fields, and capable of causing illness or stealing crops. This image belongs to the 'Bakemono no e' (scrolls of monsters) tradition, which categorized and illustrated the varied supernatural entities prevalent in Edo-period Japanese popular belief.