This great hairy beast with its fearsome, ogre-like face, is sometimes thought to wait in high places and suddenly drop
onto unsuspecting humans, killing them. But it is also said to be a guardian of the gods, lurking on top of tori-i
gates at the entrances to shrines. When an impious person or a naughty child passes through, planning mischief,
the otoroshi drops down to punish them.¹

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1. Mizuki vol. 2 2003, p. 32