Dodomeki, from Japan: what it is and what people believe

The dodomeki is a Japanese yōkai depicted as a woman with long arms covered in hundreds of bird eyes. This form results from her habit of stealing money and toxic fumes. The creature was first described by scholar Toriyama Sekien in the eighteenth century.

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Depicted as a woman with arms full of bird eyes
Cursed for stealing money and toxic fumes
First described by Toriyama Sekien in the 1700s
Eyes reference the dōsen copper coin
Appears in Yo-kai Watch and Warriors Orochi

What it is

The dodomeki is a Japanese yōkai, a type of supernatural being. It appears as a human woman cursed with long arms covered in hundreds of bird eyes. This physical change stems from her past habit of stealing money. The creature represents a specific fear of theft and greed within Japanese folklore. Its appearance serves as a warning against dishonest behavior. The name itself links directly to the coins she stole.

Where it comes from

Scholar Toriyama Sekien first described the dodomeki in the eighteenth century. He placed the creature in his work Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki. Sekien cited origins from a book called Kankan-gaishi, which may not have existed. The concept might instead be inspired by an earlier figure named Dōmeki. The long arms reflect a belief that such limbs indicate a tendency to steal. The eyes reference the dōsen coin, also known as chōmoku.

Tools and materials

The primary tools are the creature's own body parts. Long arms serve as the means of theft. Hundreds of bird eyes cover these limbs. These eyes reference the dōsen copper coin with a hole in the middle. The coin is commonly called chōmoku, meaning Bird's eye. The eyes symbolize the stolen wealth and the curse attached to it.

Dodomeki, drawn and placed

Emblem With the feather shape. Drawn from this page, not a photograph.

Living
Revived
Fading
Historical
Legendary
Performed

Standing: Legendary Known from myth, story and legend rather than from recorded practice. This says whether people still do it, not whether it works.

A feather: used in cleansing and blessing in some traditions, worn as a sign of office, and carried as a charm.

Lineage: Japanese yōkai tradition

Where it sits The tradition it belongs to, and when it is done.

What it is for

The dodomeki is believed to cause harm through theft. She steals money and toxic fumes. In one legend, she caused fires at a temple to scare priests away. Her actions stem from lingering evil deeds. The creature seeks to recover lost power. People view her as a cautionary figure against greed.

Who does it

Scholars like Toriyama Sekien documented the creature. No living practitioners perform rituals involving the dodomeki today. Sekien compiled the lore into his illustrated works. He recorded the legends without practicing them himself. The creature remains a subject of study rather than worship.

Peoples and places

The dodomeki belongs to Japanese folklore. It is known throughout Japan as a yōkai. The creature appears in various modern media franchises. These include video games and anime series. The legend persists in popular culture rather than traditional practice.

At a glance: who, where and when

Peoples

Japanese

Belief worlds

Folk and village custom

What people believe

The creature embodies the consequences of theft. Stealing money leads to a physical curse. The long arms represent the act of taking. The eyes represent the stolen coins. Toxic fumes remain from past battles. Enlightenment can break the cycle of evil. A priest's preaching led to her redemption.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Toriyama Sekien analyzed the creature's origins. He linked the eyes to specific historical coins. Scholars note the connection between limb length and theft. The legend may derive from older texts. Modern analysis focuses on its cultural symbolism.

Compare and confuse

The dodomeki is similar to the Dōmeki. Both names suggest a connection to many eyes. The creature is also called todomeki. Modern versions appear in games like Shin Megami Tensei. These adaptations often alter the original design.

Today

The dodomeki lives on in popular culture. It appears in Yo-kai Watch as Eyesoar. Warriors Orochi features it as a playable character. Ben 10 includes a similar alien named Eye Guy. Re:Monster shows a hobgoblin evolving into one. The creature remains a recognizable yokai icon.

Questions people ask about Dodomeki

What is a Dodomeki?

It is a Japanese yōkai depicted as a woman with long arms covered in hundreds of bird eyes. This form results from her habit of stealing money and absorbing toxic fumes.

Where does the name come from?

The name relates to the dōsen, a copper coin with a hole. This coin is known as chōmoku, or Bird's eye. The eyes on her arms reference these stolen coins.

Who created the legend?

Scholar Toriyama Sekien first described the creature in the eighteenth century. He included it in his work Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki, citing older sources.

How did the Dodomeki end her evil ways?

According to legend, a priest named Chitoku preached near her temple. Overhearing his sermons enlightened her. She vowed to stop committing evil deeds for the rest of her life.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Dodomeki", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryJaadu rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. Names and customs differ from one community to the next, and some knowledge is closed to outsiders and left out here. This page describes belief and practice. It does not say that any of it works, it is not a how-to, and it is not medical advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-16.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.