Hihi 狒々

Hihi (狒々) are massive, monkey-like beasts of the deep mountains, known for their terrifying strength, their speed, and their unsettling, booming laughter.

Meaning and Origin

The name Hihi is derived from both the modern Japanese word for “baboon” and the onomatopoeic “Hi-hi-hi!” of its chilling laugh.

The creature’s roots are in ancient Chinese mythology, where it was described as a mountain-dwelling monster. In Japan, these legends combined with regional tales of Sarugami (Monkey Gods). It is said that when a normal monkey reaches an exceptionally old age, it can grow to a massive size and transform into a Hihi.

Characteristics

A Hihi resembles a giant monkey with long black or white hair and a bright red face. Its most distinctive feature is its long, floppy lips. They are incredibly fast and primarily carnivorous, known to hunt boars and occasionally attack humans passing through their mountain territory.

One strange weakness is their laugh. When a Hihi encounters a human, it often bursts into uncontrollable laughter. When it does this, its long lips curl upward and cover its eyes. A clever traveler can use this moment of blindness to strike the creature’s forehead or escape.

Legends

The blood of a Hihi is said to be a magical substance. It is a deep, unfading red that can be used as a dye, and legend has it that drinking it allows a human to see invisible spirits and demons.

One famous legend involves the hero Iwami Jutarō, who was asked to save a village that was being forced to sacrifice a maiden to a “God” every year. Jutarō hid in the sacrifice box and, when the creature appeared, he discovered it was not a god but a massive old Hihi. He battled the beast and killed it, ending the gruesome tribute forever.