1.
zashiki-warashi
A child-like spirit from Japanese folklore believed to inhabit old houses, particularly in the Tōhoku region. Thought to bring good fortune and prosperity to the household, while its departure signals the family's decline.
Etymology
座敷 (tatami reception room) + 童 (child; a dialect and archaic word): "the child of the parlor."
Cultural note
A 座敷童 appears as a small child with bobbed hair, playful but never malicious, and is said to be visible only to children. Signs of one are footsteps, laughter, and objects that have moved. A house it lives in prospers; when it leaves, the family declines. The belief belongs to the 東北 region, especially 岩手県, where some old inns are known for sightings, and it is a popular figure in manga and anime.