Suiton
Meet Suiton (pronounced “Soo-EE-ton”), the local monster who serves as unofficial mascot to the Hiruzen region. Visitors will spot him lurking (and in some places towering) throughout the area, red mouth agape and serpentine eyes staring balefully as he balances on his single, trunk-like leg.
According to local legend, Suiton can read minds, and so he knows whenever someone is harboring evil thoughts or malicious plans. His name comes from two onomatopoetic Japanese words: sui, the sound of something speeding through the air, and ton, the whump of a hard landing. Upon sensing that someone is thinking bad thoughts, Suiton flies to the person’s location, lands with a thump, and gobbles up the culprit in the blink of an eye.
Like many of Japan’s supernatural beings (yōkai), Suiton has a dual nature: part merciless punisher, part local protector. Mothers in Hiruzen may use him to threaten misbehaving children, but residents speak of him with surprising affection. Despite its gruesome elements, the legend is cited to explain locals’ traditional friendliness toward newcomers in their community—not always the case in isolated mountain towns. With a flying monster quickly dispatching anyone hiding ill intent, Hiruzen's citizens can safely assume that any traveler allowed to pass must come in peace. Visitors will find Suiton adorning pocket charms and key chains, standing outside local restaurants, and even towering like an immense totem pole just off the highway interchange.