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by Yuka Morii
Clay sculpture
Red-bodied banyan tree spirit of the Ryukyus, sharing the ocean's bounty with fishermen who honor it.
A tree spirit said to dwell in banyan trees and other large trees. It has a red body, and its arms can stretch out like branches. Its favorite food is the left eye of a fish. When it befriends a human, it accompanies them on fishing trips and blesses them with abundant catches. A household that maintains a good relationship with this spirit will prosper, but one that drives it away will eventually decline.
A tree spirit said to dwell in banyan trees and other large trees. It has a red body, and its arms can stretch out like branches. Its favorite food is the left eye of a fish. When it befriends a human, it accompanies them on fishing trips and blesses them with abundant catches. A household that maintains a good relationship with this spirit will prosper, but one that drives it away will eventually decline.