ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Rokurokubi

Rokurokubi is a word from Japan that describes a creature that looks like a normal human, but it has the ability to stretch its neck to abnormal lengths. Imagine if you had a long rubber band around your neck that you could stretch and stretch as far as you could reach. That's what a rokurokubi can do!

These creatures are said to come out at night and feed on human blood, but not all rokurokubi are this mean. Some are just mischievous and like to play pranks on humans. They often live in groups, and when they're not out hunting or causing trouble, they appear to be just like normal humans.

But when they want to stretch their necks out, they can do it at will. It's creepy, but some people say it's also kind of cool. Just imagine being able to stretch your neck out really long like a giraffe whenever you wanted!

In Japanese folklore, rokurokubi are often thought to be the result of a curse, and they can't control their ability to stretch their necks out. But in some stories, they're actually humans who have voluntarily given themselves the gift of an elongated neck in order to frighten their enemies.

Whether they're scary or just curious creatures, rokurokubi are one of the unique and interesting mythical creatures you can learn about from Japanese folklore.
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