TŌFU KOZŌ 豆腐小僧

Pronunciation: TOH-foo KOH-zoh

Translation: Tofu Boy

Similar to: Hitotsume Kozō (一つ目小僧)

Overview

The tōfu kozō is an endearing, timid boy-looking yōkai who simply wishes to give you a gift, a block of tofu. He’s recognizable not only by the bean curd–topped tray he’s carrying but also by his signature style. He is frequently depicted with an oversized bald head and dressed in a kimono, wooden geta shoes, and a traditional wide-brimmed hat called a kasa. He comes out on rainy days and can be seen standing in the street or following people around, trying to ply them with tofu.

Some artists’ interpretations depict him with a single giant eye and dangling tongue, which is probably why he’s at times linked to, or confused with, the hitotsume kozō (see the Hitotsume Kozō entry). There are also prints that show him with feet that have two long claws, suggesting that he’s not a normal little boy, while in others he’s carrying a jug of sake too.

The tōfu kozō doesn’t shape-shift or hide any bloodthirsty intentions; if anything, he’s a little bullied himself. Even though his parents are rumored to be a rokurokubi (a humanlike creature that can stretch its neck—see the Rokurokubi entry) and a mikoshi nyūdō (another long-necked yōkai), he’s often portrayed as a servant or underling to stronger yōkai, who tend to push him around. This might explain the sake too: He’s serving them.

The interesting thing about the tōfu kozō is that in the grand scheme of Japanese supernatural beings, this bean curd giver isn’t very old, compared to many that were written about in the Kojiki (C.E. 712) and Nihon Shoki (C.E. 720). The innocent-enough-looking creature appeared out of nowhere sometime in the late 1700s then again at the end of the Edo era (1603–1867) through to the Meiji era (1868–1912). Nevertheless, he was hugely popular, showing up in books—especially yellow-covered books called kibyōshi (黄表紙), picture books produced from 1175 to the early nineteenth century that were considered comic books for adults—poetry, and kabuki performances and even illustrated on all kinds of toys, like kites, board games, and cards.

Remember that gift he wants to give you? The tofu is called momiji-dōfu (紅葉豆腐) and is usually marked with a small crimson-colored maple leaf. Later, in the Showa (1926–1989) and Heisei (1989–2019) eras, the tale evolved to add that if you accept this block of tofu and then are foolish enough to take a bite from it, mold will start growing all over your body.

Background and Popular Stories

The tōfu kozō is also reportedly connected to epidemics of smallpox in Japanese history. The first recorded case of smallpox in Japan was in C.E. 735 During a three-year period from C.E. 735–737, this previously unseen disease killed approximately a third of the population. At the beginning, it was presumed to be onryō, or vengeful spirits. But eventually, a new kami (god) was born. The hōsōgami or hōsōshin (疱瘡神) manifested from the need to understand and explain these unfathomable happenings. The Japanese characters literally mean “smallpox god”; however, in English, this kami is sometimes called the smallpox demon or devil, for obvious reasons.

During the Edo era (1603–1867), this dreadful and deadly disease was still running rampant, and science and medicine weren’t yet able to explain and deal with it. No one knew what caused the illness or how to cure it, but by then they had been living with it for hundreds of years. By this time, it had become a childhood disease, as adults who survived smallpox were immune. Children, though, were particularly vulnerable and were often scarred or, if it affected the eyes, blinded.

In houses and towns everywhere, the hōsōgami was both feared and prayed to in turn. People wanted to drive it away or appease its wrath—whichever worked. One way to do that was through the use of folk medicine, which included dances, exorcisms, the color red, and using special imagery. This imagery included legendary warriors like Momotarō and Kintarō (see their entries) as well as toys like horned owls, daruma dolls (legless dolls that depict the Bodhidharma—founder of Zen Buddhism—and represent perseverance), den-den drums (small handheld drums you rotate to make the attached beaded strings strike the drums, as seen in The Karate Kid Part II), and tai fish–shaped carts (tai fish, or sea bream, were associated with good luck).

So what is the connection between tōfu kozō and smallpox? Some historians, looking closely at the old artwork of the tōfu kozō, noticed that the prints and patterns on his clothes were often the same as the ones used for expelling the hōsōgami. There were daruma dolls, horned owls, drums, and the red tai fish. This has led them to think the tōfu kozō might have been created as a means of protection against smallpox. On the other hand, it also could have been some kind of parody, since the kibyōshi (comic) books that first depicted the tōfu kozō were aimed at adults and usually filled with satire.

In Modern Stories

The anime Little Ghostly Adventures of Tofu Boy features as its protagonist a tōfu kozō who is transported to the modern era. Then there are appearances in the role-playing game Genshin Impact, the manga and anime GeGeGe no Kitarō, and the Yo-kai Watch games (as Tofupyon). And in Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan he shows up alongside an entirely new yōkai called Natto Kozō (Fermented Soy Bean Boy).