Azukibaba

Azukibaba is a Japanese Yokai monster which is similar to Azukiarai that makes noize like washing azuki beans.

There are many different stories about Azukibaba in different places.

In Kawagoe city, Saitama prefecture,
Azukibaba start making noize when the weather is about to be raining at an abandoned temple. In this area, mothers used to tell kids that "If you don't listen to what your mother says, Azukibaba will come and get you".

In Gunma prefecture,
Azukibaba appears at one river near Takasaki castle. In the night Azukibaba starts singing "Shall I wash azuki beans or eat human". When anyone walks near it, Azukibaba will draw the person into light. To avoid it, you have to grab both thumbs and keep calm.

In Tokyo,
A singing "One azuki bean... Two azuki beans..." from a river during a night of fall. Then Azukibaba appears wearing white kimono at the dawn and disappears.

In Yamanashi prefecture,
Azukibaba is called as Azukisogi who lives on a big tree near a shrine. During the night, if someone walks near the tree, Azukibaba tells "Come here, eat some azuki beans". If a person stands shocked, Azukibaba will scoop the person up with huge zaru sieve upon the tree.