Mountain creature that sees through human thoughts
Satori
In the deep mountain, a black shadow hears every thought. You cannot beat it with the mind. Then a split log flies where no one meant it to fly.
Overview
Satori is a mountain creature that knows whatever a person is thinking and says it aloud. It can use that knowledge to trap and eat people, but cannot handle events even the person did not expect.
Encounter
A woodcutter working alone in the mountains sees a black beast. When he thinks "I am afraid," it says so; when he thinks of fleeing, it says that too. Only an accidental splinter or spark surprises it.
Lore
Satori is told in Hida and Mino and under related names such as omoi in Yamanashi and yama-oni in Sagami. Sekien drew it as Satori in Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki, drawing on the yamako in Wakan Sansai Zue.
Traits
It reads conscious thoughts and speaks them. Its power fails before truly unexpected accidents, so tales often end with it fleeing from an unplanned blow.
In the deep mountains of Hida and Mino lives a beast called Satori.
Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki