Satori

◆ The legend

A yokai said to appear deep in the mountains, looking something like a monkey. Its body is covered in long hair, it speaks human language, and above all, it can read everything in a person's mind. Sitting by the fire in a mountain hut, you might find it wandering in, saying, "You just felt scared," or "You're thinking of grabbing me," naming each thought the moment you have it. Try to run or try to chase it off, and it's already one step ahead of the idea.

In many parts of Japan, old tales tell how the satori was finally sent running. Giving up on it, a man goes quietly back to his work, and then a log in the fire pops, or a chip of wood flies off as he splits it, and happens to strike the satori. No one had been thinking of that, so not even the satori could read it coming. "Humans are frightening. They do things they never even thought of," it says, and flees deep into the mountains.