TV-Series
Description
Azuki-Arai, also known as Azuki-Togi, is a yōkai from Japanese folklore. Traditionally heard near rivers making sounds like washing azuki beans ("shoki shoki"), it rarely appears visibly. Sightings, considered lucky, describe a short, grotesque figure resembling a Buddhist priest: large round eyes, bald head, crooked teeth, a thin mustache, and tattered clothing, often bent over a pail. It sometimes sings "azuki togō ka, hito totte kuō ka?" ("Will I grind my azuki beans, or will I get a person to eat?"). Hearing its sound may cause people to slip into the water.
Within the "GeGeGe no Kitarō" universe, Azuki-Arai is a recurring ally. His design consistently features a short, stout stature, large round eyes, a bald head with sideburns, a thin mustache, and blocky teeth. He typically wears a sleeveless dark kimono tied with a sash, no pants, and has bristly hair on his limbs and chest. Earlier anime (1968) showed lighter hair and no chest hair, while later versions (2007–2018) depict three-clawed hands and two-clawed feet. He is intensely dedicated to washing, grinding, and promoting azuki beans, often running shops selling bean snacks. Though generally benign, he shows pettiness if beans are disrespected.
His anime appearances include:
* The 1985 film *GeGeGe no Kitarō: Gekitotsu!! Ijigen Yōkai no Daihanran* among allied yōkai.
* The 2007 anime: Episode 40 features him competing for popularity with his snacks; Episode 83 sees him become the 11th "47 Yōkai Warrior of Japan," representing Yamanashi Prefecture with a head mark.
* The 2018 anime: Episode 7 shows him briefly scaring a human on a ghost train. Episode 31 centers on his efforts to revive azuki culture; frustrated by declining interest, he joins the "Azuki Allied Force" (Azuki-Hakari, Azuki-Babaa) under Nezumi-Otoko's plan to become social media influencers. When Azuki-Babaa gains disproportionate fame, Azuki-Arai briefly lashes out against Western sweets before reconciling to run a modest bean shop. He also appears in a crowd opposing Agnès but heeds Kitarō's call for restraint.
In the spin-off *NonNonBa* and its live-action adaptation, he performs songs and dances with other yōkai at a theater. The film *The Great Yōkai War* (2005) gives him a critical role: initially reluctant to join the war, he is coerced after spilling beans misinterpreted as agreement. During the final battle, his spilled beans accidentally trigger a chain reaction destroying antagonist Kikai's machine, exploiting its weakness to azuki beans.
Azuki-Arai possesses minor supernatural abilities tied to beans, like forcefully blowing or propelling them, though these are rarely emphasized. His unwavering devotion to azuki beans remains his primary trait across all media.
Within the "GeGeGe no Kitarō" universe, Azuki-Arai is a recurring ally. His design consistently features a short, stout stature, large round eyes, a bald head with sideburns, a thin mustache, and blocky teeth. He typically wears a sleeveless dark kimono tied with a sash, no pants, and has bristly hair on his limbs and chest. Earlier anime (1968) showed lighter hair and no chest hair, while later versions (2007–2018) depict three-clawed hands and two-clawed feet. He is intensely dedicated to washing, grinding, and promoting azuki beans, often running shops selling bean snacks. Though generally benign, he shows pettiness if beans are disrespected.
His anime appearances include:
* The 1985 film *GeGeGe no Kitarō: Gekitotsu!! Ijigen Yōkai no Daihanran* among allied yōkai.
* The 2007 anime: Episode 40 features him competing for popularity with his snacks; Episode 83 sees him become the 11th "47 Yōkai Warrior of Japan," representing Yamanashi Prefecture with a head mark.
* The 2018 anime: Episode 7 shows him briefly scaring a human on a ghost train. Episode 31 centers on his efforts to revive azuki culture; frustrated by declining interest, he joins the "Azuki Allied Force" (Azuki-Hakari, Azuki-Babaa) under Nezumi-Otoko's plan to become social media influencers. When Azuki-Babaa gains disproportionate fame, Azuki-Arai briefly lashes out against Western sweets before reconciling to run a modest bean shop. He also appears in a crowd opposing Agnès but heeds Kitarō's call for restraint.
In the spin-off *NonNonBa* and its live-action adaptation, he performs songs and dances with other yōkai at a theater. The film *The Great Yōkai War* (2005) gives him a critical role: initially reluctant to join the war, he is coerced after spilling beans misinterpreted as agreement. During the final battle, his spilled beans accidentally trigger a chain reaction destroying antagonist Kikai's machine, exploiting its weakness to azuki beans.
Azuki-Arai possesses minor supernatural abilities tied to beans, like forcefully blowing or propelling them, though these are rarely emphasized. His unwavering devotion to azuki beans remains his primary trait across all media.