Shirime
In its own language: 尻目
from the Japanese words for buttocks and eye
A faceless yokai that hides an eye in its rear to startle travelers
Shirime is a Japanese yokai described as having no facial features but possessing a large eye in its anus. It appears human from a distance but reveals its true form up close solely to frighten people rather than cause physical harm.
- Shirime means buttocks eye in Japanese
- It has no face but an eye in its anus
- Buson painted the creature often
- It scares people but does not harm them
- A 2023 PC game features the yokai
What it is
Shirime is a creature from Japanese folklore classified as a yōkai. It is known for its bizarre anatomy: while it looks like a normal person from afar, it lacks a face entirely. Instead of eyes or a mouth, it has a large, glittering eye located directly in its anus. This unusual feature allows it to see despite having no head. The entity is not considered dangerous in terms of violence. Its primary purpose is to startle and scare those who encounter it.
Where it comes from
The creature originates from Japan. One recorded tale involves a samurai traveling at night toward Kyoto. He was stopped by a stranger who stripped naked and pointed his rear at him. As the traveler looked on in shock, an eye opened in the man's backside. This specific story helped cement the creature's reputation in popular imagination. The legend gained further traction through the work of the artist Buson, who included Shirime in many of his paintings of yōkai.
Shirime, drawn and placed
- Living
- Revived
- Fading
- Historical
- Legendary
- Performed
- Lineage
- Japanese folklore
What it is for
Shirime exists to frighten people. It does not seek to hurt, kill, or steal from humans. Its joy comes purely from the reaction of fear it provokes in travelers. When someone gets close enough to notice the lack of a face, the creature reveals the eye in its rear to deliver a startling surprise. It is a prankster spirit rather than a malevolent demon.
Peoples and places
The Shirime is part of the broader category of yōkai in Japanese culture. These are supernatural beings that inhabit the natural world. The legend was notably popularized by the haiku poet and artist Buson. His artistic depictions helped preserve the image of the faceless butt-eyed monster in the cultural record. It remains a recognized figure in modern retellings of Japanese folklore.
At a glance: who, where and when
Peoples
Today
The legend continues in modern media. In April 2023, a PC game titled Shirime: The Curse of Butt-Eye was released. This digital adaptation stars the creature, bringing the old folklore into contemporary gaming. The character appears in online databases dedicated to Japanese monsters, keeping the name alive for new audiences.
Questions people ask about Shirime
What is a Shirime?
It is a Japanese yōkai that looks human from a distance but has no face. Instead, it possesses a large eye in its anus, which it uses to startle people who get too close.
Where does the name come from?
The name comes from the Japanese words shiri, meaning buttocks, and me, meaning eye. It literally translates to buttocks eye.
Is the Shirime dangerous?
No, it is not considered harmful. The creature only wants to scare people. It does not attack or injure those it encounters.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Shirime", 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 2026-10-15.
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