Sunakake-baba 砂かけ婆

Sunakake-baba (砂かけ婆), the “Sand-Throwing Hag,” is a mysterious and mischievous spirit that lurks in the shadows of bamboo groves and temple paths, blinding travelers with a sudden shower of grit.

Meaning and Origin

The name means Suna (Sand), Kake (Throwing/Scattering), and Baba (Old woman/Hag).

Its origin is widely attributed to the Nara and Hyōgo Prefectures, though stories exist all across Japan. She is a specialized “boundary Yokai” that lives in the transition zones between the human world and the wild forest. Folklorists like Yanagita Kunio documented her as an auditory phenomenon—the sound of sand hitting leaves or paper screens when no one is there. She represents the Invisible Presence in the dark, the feeling that you are being followed or observed in a place where you should be alone.

Characteristics

Sunakake-baba is rarely seen, but when she does manifest, she appears as an old woman with wild, grey hair and a tattered kimono. Her most notable feature is the Basket of Sand she carries, which never seems to run empty.

Her primary characteristic is her Stealthy Attack. She hides in the upper branches of bamboo trees or behind temple gates. When a traveler passes under her, she throws a handful of sand into their eyes or onto their head. The sand is said to be “Heavy Sand” or “Dirty Sand” that causes a stinging pain and temporary blindness. She does not kill or eat her victims; she simply laughs a raspy, dry laugh and vanishes. In modern culture, she is often depicted as a maternal but fiery grandmother figure to other Yokai.

Legends

A common legend in Nara tells of a “Sand-Throwing Temple.” Local villagers would hear the sound of sand being thrown against the temple’s sliding doors every night at midnight.

One brave priest stayed up to catch the culprit. He didn’t see anyone, but he felt a cold wind and then a face-full of grit. He realized that the spirit was a protector of the shrine, preventing thieves from entering at night. He began leaving a small pile of fresh sand at the gate as an offering, and the “haunting” became a blessing, as no criminal dared approach the temple again. Sunakake-baba is a reminder that the spirits of the land are always watching, and often, their “attacks” are just their own way of saying “keep out.”