海坊主 · water · Japan

Umibōzu

Umibōzu are enormous sea spirits that rise from the ocean, often during storms. They are depicted as shadowy figures, terrifying sailors and causing shipwrecks. Their appearances serve as warnings of impending danger, embodying the chaos of the sea.

Legend

One legend speaks of a fisherman who drew the wrath of an umibōzu after disrespecting the ocean; his ship was capsized as a reminder of nature's unpredictability.