Azukiarai

Azukiarai is a Japanese Yokai monster that makes noize like washing azuki beans at a river.

Azukiarai has many names in different places like Azukitogi, Azukiage, Azukigoshagosha, Azukisogi, Azukisarasara, or Azukiyaro.

In Matsumoto city, Nagano prefecture,
Azukiarai is thought as making noize of cutting a tree down, or a baby crying.
In Gunma or Shimane prefecture,
Azukiarai is believed to kidnap people.

According to a book "Shirakawa Fuudoki", People used to call suspicious noizes as Azukitogi while staying at a Charcoal kiln in the mountain of Tsuriu, Fukushima prefecture. Azukitogi comes during the night and makes noize of mixing azuki beans, but when person looks outside, nothing is there.

In Ibaraki prefecture or Sadogashima, Azukiarai is thought as a big eyed small priest smiling while washing azuki beans. This one is thought as a good yokai, so if mother of daughter looks at it, the daughter will have a good relationship sooner.

In Ohita prefecture, Azukiarai sings a song while washing azuki at a river. It sings as "Shall I wash azuki beans or kidnap human and eat". If a person hears the song too much, the person will be unconsciously guided closer to the river and thrown into the river.

According to a horror story book in Edo era, "Ehon Hyakumonogatari", Azukiarai was originally a child priest called Nichigen who was training in a temple in Takada, Niigata prefecture.
Nichigen had disabilities, but he's good at counting things without making any miscount. He could even count a bucket full of azuki beans without any miscount.
The priest of the temple treated Nichigen well, and thought to make Nichigen the next priest of the temple.
However, a bad priest Enkai envied Nichigen, then killed Nichigen by throwing him into a well.
Since then, a ghost of Nichigen started throwing azuki beans to temple facilities during the night, and sings and washes azuki beans at the river close to the temple.
Enkai was sentenced death later on, Since then, two ghosts arguing was heard at the well where Enkai killed Nichigen.