Love the creepy side of Japan? On the surface, all that people hear about Japan is their rich culture, and how weird some of their customs and inventions are. But aside from that, there is a darker side of Japan, including their unsettling urban leg...
This urban legend is about a sound-related yōkai named Betobeto-san. It got its name from how the sound it makes is similar wooden clog shoes stepping on a hard street, making a "beto beto" sound. It's kind of like how Teke-Teke got her name because of the "teke teke" sound she makes when she crawls around. Because of the way Betobeto-san's name is, as well as the appearance it's been given, it is seen as genderless.
No matter where you're walking- whether it is along the road or the dark streets of the city- you may hear a set of footsteps behind you. If you do, it may just be Betobeto-san. You may not see it since it is mainly invisible to humans, but don't worry. It is not a dangerous yōkai and it doesn't want to hurt anyone. It simply likes to stick around with people and provide them company. If you don't want Betobeto-san's company, it is said that you should simply step to the side and invite it to pass you. As long as you say something along the lines of "Oh please, Betobeto-san- you first", it'll walk right on by and leave you be.
The only time it refused to leave someone be was in a story where a man carrying a lantern was walking down a dark street. He heard the sounds of Betobeto-san behind him and knew how to deal with it. He stepped aside, and said, "After you, Betobeto-san." In his dismay, he heard a voice say, "I can't go ahead. It's too dark." The man then offered his lantern, and was surprised again when he heard a "Thank you" in reply. He watched his lantern float away, bobbing up and down as if invisible hands were holding it. The man made his way back to his home in the dark, and woke up the next morning to find his lantern returned.
Before manga author Shigeru Mizuki included Betobeto-san in his comics, it didn't really have a physical appearance. The writer envisioned it to be a round, circular figure with a large smile. Mizuki decided to add the yōkai in his comics from an experience as a child, where he encountered it himself. When he became confused and afraid, his caretaker and a friend of his taught him the chant that lets Betobeto-san walk by. With the help of Mizuku, Betobeto-san became extremely popular. It came to a point where it was ranked 5th place in a "What's Your Favorite Yōkai?" survey in Japan.
Overall, many people in Japan like Betobeto-san. There is a statue of it in Sakaiminato, where tourists like to pose next to it, as well as leave coins in its mouth for good luck. Many people think that the popularity of Betobeto-san is because of how friendly it is. Children love the smiling mouth, and some think that its design is actually pretty cute. What do you think? Does Betobeto-san deserve some love for not wanting to rip our heads off like other things that have been mentioned in this series?
Either way, it's nice to have a friendly yōkai that isn't itching to kill you.
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