Samebito

The Samebito, meaning "shark person" in Japanese, appears as a captivating supernatural being in the literary works of Lafcadio Hearn. This remarkable creature combines fearsome appearance with gentle character—possessing midnight-black skin, luminous emerald eyes, a demonic visage, and a beard reminiscent of a dragon's whiskers.

In Hearn's tale "The Gratitude of the Samebito," this aquatic being encounters a man named Tōtarō at a bridge crossing. Despite the creature's intimidating appearance, Tōtarō discovers the Samebito is actually a benevolent spirit who has been banished from his underwater realm by Ryūjin, the dragon god of the sea, for a minor transgression. Moved by compassion, Tōtarō offers the creature sanctuary in a deep pond on his property.

Meanwhile, Tōtarō himself falls deeply in love with a beautiful woman he observes during a pilgrimage at Mii-dera temple. His happiness turns to despair when he learns her family demands an impossible bride-price—ten thousand jewels for her hand in marriage. The lovesick Tōtarō becomes so consumed with grief that he falls gravely ill.

Upon learning of his benefactor's condition, the Samebito begins to weep tears of blood which, upon touching the ground, transform into precious rubies. Through this miraculous gift, Tōtarō accumulates enough wealth to win his beloved's hand. In a harmonious conclusion, the Samebito receives forgiveness from the dragon deities and returns to his ocean home, while Tōtarō achieves his heart's desire.

Hearn notes that this creature is sometimes known as Kōjin in Japanese tradition—entities believed to inhabit the South China Sea who create precious gems through their tears and spend their days weaving at underwater looms, similar to the ningyo (Japanese merfolk). His narrative draws inspiration from an earlier tale by the Japanese writer Kyokutei Bakin, demonstrating how this fascinating creature bridges both traditional Japanese folklore and Western literary adaptation.