ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Yama-bito

Okay kiddo, let's talk about yama-bito!

So first, do you know what a mountain is? It's a really big hill that goes up really high. And people like to climb mountains because it's a fun adventure!

But sometimes when you're climbing a mountain, you might hear strange noises or feel like someone is watching you. That's where yama-bito comes in!

Yama-bito is a really cool word that means "mountain people" in Japanese. Some people believe that these mountain people are like spirits or ghosts that live in the mountains. They might look like humans, but they can also change shape and turn into animals like bears or monkeys!

Some people say that yama-bito can be friendly and helpful to humans. They might guide lost hikers back to safety or bring them food and water. But other people think that yama-bito can be mischievous or even scary! They might play tricks on hikers or try to steal their belongings.

Now, we don't know if yama-bito are real or not. But either way, they're a really fun and interesting part of Japanese folklore!