Akaname
AKA: (none found)
Origin: Japan
History:
Not much is known about this demon. It is believed to have first appeared during Japan’s Edo Period (1603-1868). The name roughly translates into “filth-licker" or “red licker" which is the reason why it’s depicted as red in color. As it’s name suggests it likes to lick filth with its long poisonous tongue. After the Edo Period, it appeared again in a work from 1776 called Pictures of a Demon’s Nocturnal Stroll.
What’s so weird about it?
Akaname loves to lick filth, if it sees something dirty it will lick it clean. They’ve been shown to enjoy licking dirty bathrooms. Can you imagine going into a dirty public bathroom and just thinking “Hey, I think I’ll lick this whole place!" Basically that’s the thought process of an Akaname. They began as a tale to tell little kids who refused to wash up that while they sleep, the Akaname will come and lick them. I don’t know about you but if I was told that, I would run straight into the washroom, no complaints from me.
What if I see one?
The real question here is, why would you go into a dirty bathroom in the first place? As there is very little written and known about them, it doesn’t say what to do if you see one, besides they aren’t shown to be evil or malicious to humans. But if I were you, I would just slowly back away and let the little demon lick and clean to its heart’s content.