木きの子こ

expression, noun

kinoko; mountain-dwelling demon resembling a child

A yōkai from Japanese folklore, said to live in the mountains and appear as a child-like creature. The term is also a homophone for 'mushroom' (茸), but this word refers specifically to the supernatural being.

• 昔むかし話ばなしには、山やま奥おくで木きの子こに出で会あったという話はなしが残のこっている。

  Old tales tell of encounters with a kinoko deep in the mountains.

• 木きの子こは、見みた目めは子こ供どものようだが、実じつは恐おそろしい妖よう怪かいだと言いわれている。

  The kinoko is said to look like a child but is actually a fearsome yōkai.