If you’ve read Kitsune-Mochi, you might remember a scene where Murame hears footsteps trailing her down a mountain. That’s the beto-beto-san, named onomatopoeiatically for the beto-beto sound of walking in wooden geta on stone.
Susan Spann, author of the Shinobi mysteries, talks today on Murder is Everywhere about her real life brush with beto-beto-san during a research trip in Japan.
Just remember, the beto-beto-san is a mischievous prankster but generally not dangerous, and as with so many Japanese youkai you can get safely away by being polite. Take care and mind your manners!