Name Meaning
Ashinagatenaga (足長手長) literally means “Long Legs and Long Arms.” These two yokai are a complementary pair who work together when fishing or traveling through the sea and shorelines.
- Ashinaga (足長) = Long legs
- Tenaga (手長) = Long arms
Origin
- First documented in Toriyama Sekien's Gazu Hyakki Yagyō, among other Edo-period yokai collections.
- Common in coastal folklore, especially around Nagasaki and Shikoku.
Appearance
- Ashinaga: A man with extremely long legs used to wade into deep waters.
- Tenaga: A man with very long arms that can reach deep into the water or across great distances.
- Usually depicted together, cooperating like fishermen or gentle giants.
Behavior
- Not malevolent — they are often gentle and helpful yokai.
- Work together to fish or navigate water, using their unique limbs.
- Seen as a symbol of balance and cooperation.
Symbolism
- Reflects harmony between strength and reach.
- May represent people’s imagination about strange but friendly beings living at the edges of civilization.
- Seen in some regions as protective spirits of the sea.
