In Japanese folklore

Japanese folklore

The folklore of Japan is heavily influenced by both Shinto and Buddhism, the two primary religions in the country. It often involves humorous or bizarre characters and situations and also includes an assortment of supernatural beings, such as bodhisattva, kami , yōkai , yūrei ,...

, Gashadokuro (がしゃどくろ) or "Odokuro" are giant skeleton

Skeleton

The skeleton is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body.In a figurative sense, skeleton can...

s, often fifteen times taller than an average person. If a gashadokuro sees a human

Human

Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...

, it will grab it and bite its head off if it does not flee quickly. Gashadokuro are created from gathering bones from people who have died of starvation

Starvation

Starvation is a severe deficiency in caloric energy, nutrient and vitamin intake. It is the most extreme form of malnutrition. In humans, prolonged starvation can cause permanent organ damage and eventually, death...

. The only way a gashadokuro can be detected before it appears is by hearing a ringing in one's ears.

External links

• Gashadokuro in Various Videogames