Tenome
In its own language: 手の目
from Japanese te (hand) and me (eye)
A Japanese yōkai with eyes on its palms, known from Edo-period illustrations and tales.
The tenome is a Japanese yōkai depicted with eyes growing on the palms of its hands. It first appeared in Toriyama Sekien's Gazu Hyakki Yagyō and later featured in folk tales where it acts as a vengeful spirit or a monster that removes bones.
- Eyes grow on the palms instead of the face.
- Created by artist Toriyama Sekien.
- A tale involves a monster removing all bones.
- Interpreted as wordplay on revealing secrets.
- Inspired characters in modern pop culture.
What it is
The tenome is a creature from Japanese folklore classified as a yōkai. It is visually distinct because it has eyes located on the palms of its hands rather than on its face. The figure often appears as a blind person or a monk-like figure. There are no explanatory texts attached to the original drawings, so the creature's specific nature relies on later interpretations and stories.
Where it comes from
The tenome was introduced by the artist Toriyama Sekien in his book Gazu Hyakki Yagyō. Later works, such as the Hyakki Yagyō Emaki and Shokoku Hyaku Monogatari, depict similar figures. Some legends suggest the tenome originates from a blind person who was killed and robbed, seeking revenge by using their hand-eyes to see their killers.
Tenome, drawn and placed
- Living
- Revived
- Fading
- Historical
- Legendary
- Performed
- Lineage
- Yōkai tradition
What it is for
In some tales, the tenome is a malevolent force. One story describes a monster that chases a man into a temple and removes all his bones, leaving only skin. Another legend says the creature seeks to identify the scoundrels who murdered it, using its palm eyes to look at them.
Peoples and places
The tenome is part of Japanese yōkai culture. It appears in various illustrated manuscripts and kaidan collections. Different regions have variations, such as the teme-bōzu in Kumamoto Prefecture. Researchers like Katsumi Tada interpret the imagery as wordplay on idioms about revealing one's true character.
At a glance: who, where and when
Peoples
How scholars and sceptics see it
Researchers view the tenome through linguistic and cultural lenses. Katsumi Tada suggests the image plays on phrases meaning to reveal tricks or lose a match. The visual elements, like moonlight and grass, reference idioms about paranoia and seeing ghosts everywhere.
Compare and confuse
The kurayami me is a similar yōkai with eyes on its knees, allowing it to walk in the dark. The tenome is sometimes compared to the Hamsa symbol due to the prominent hand imagery, though they serve different cultural roles.
Today
The tenome appears in modern media. It inspired characters in films like Pan's Labyrinth, video games like Cuphead and Skylanders, and anime like Demon Slayer. These adaptations keep the core visual trait of eyes on hands.
Questions people ask about Tenome
What is a tenome?
It is a Japanese yōkai with eyes on its palms. It first appeared in Toriyama Sekien's Gazu Hyakki Yagyō and is often depicted as a blind person or monk.
Where does the tenome come from?
It originates from Japanese folklore and was popularized by the artist Toriyama Sekien in the Edo period. Legends say it may be the spirit of a murdered blind person.
What does the tenome do in stories?
In tales, it is often a harmful spirit. One story describes it chasing a man and removing all his bones. Another says it uses its hand-eyes to find its killers.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Tenome", 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.
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