53) Japan - 26. Wanyudo

A yokai that appears as an old man's bald head embedded in the center of a flaming wheel, said to roll through the night streets spitting flames. According to Toriyama Sekien's 'Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro', it steals souls, leaving those who make eye contact or fall into terror in a daze. As countermeasures, it is said to be effective to post a talisman on the door with 'This is the village of Katsu-no-Sato (此所勝母の里)' written on it, or to avoid eye contact and hide. It is believed to originate from the tale of a wheel yokai in Higashinotoin, Kyoto, from 'Shokoku Hyaku Monogatari'. There is a similar wheel yokai called 'Katawaguruma' (one-wheeled cart), which is presumed to have originated from the same tale as Wanyudo, leading to confusion and divergence. The difference between the two yokai is that Wanyudo often has a male face, while Katawaguruma is often depicted with a female face, and unlike Wanyudo which steals souls, Katawaguruma is known to steal babies.