Kenmun are tree spirits from Japanese mythology. Like kappa, they have a bowl in their heads which holds oil or water. Their bodies are covered in hair, and they are often said to resemble monkeys.

They make their homes in banana trees, and live in large families. They enjoy spending time by the water, and are said to be quite friendly to humans, though they are generally very shy. They are able to magically create light and fire, and can change their shape.

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Kenmun have a number of strange abilities. They are able to change their shapes. They often disguise themselves as people, horses, or cows. They can change into plants and blend in with the surrounding vegetation, or even disappear entirely. Kenmun can also create light. Their drool glows eerily, as do their fingertips. They have the ability to create fire from the tips of their fingers. Sometimes they use this fire to light the oil in their head-dishes. When mysterious lights are seen in the mountains or on the shores of the Amami islands, it is called kenmun machi by locals.

Kenmun like to hunt at night, lighting up their fingertips to search for food in the dark. They primarily feed on fish and small shellfish. They also enjoy slugs and snails, pulling off the shells and rolling them up like rice balls. (It is possible to identify a banyan tree inhabited by a kenmun by the sheer amount of snail shells piled up among its roots.) They absolutely hate octopus and giant clams, and will have nothing to do with them.

nyaa// (*ﾉ▽ﾉ)//