Samebito
(Japan)
A black monster with green glowing eyes and a spike beard. On the Long Bridge the
monster encountered the hero Totaro, but instead of attacking him, the monster
entreated him to give it food and shelter. It turned out that the sea-king had
expelled it from the ocean. Totaro took the monster with him and gave it a lake
near his own palace where he fed it. Some time later, Totaro fell in love with
the beautiful Tamana and intended to marry her. Tamana's father however, had
set the bride price at 10,000 precious stones. Unable to come up with such an
immense fortune, Totaro went home and lay ill until he was dying. When Samebito
learned of what happened to its benefactor, it shed tears of sadness until the
monster discovered that its tears had turned into pearls, rubies and emeralds. With
these precious stones Totaro was able to pay the bride price and marry the
lovely Tamana.