(Japanese folklore) Shapeshifting monster, 妖怪 (yōkai), which for a ruse takes the form of either a helpless baby or tiny old man, crying near woodland trails and crushes passersby who stop to help as it transforms to devour them.

(Japanese folklore) Shapeshifting monster, 妖怪 (yōkai), which for a ruse takes the form of either a helpless baby or tiny old man, crying near woodland trails and crushes passersby who stop to help as it transforms to devour them.

a monster / a mysterious figure

tradition / legend / folklore

to change, to make different / to move or shift to a different time or place

potential of 変える (kaeru): to be changeable / passive of 変える (kaeru): to be changed

crying

a grandfather / an old man; a geezer; a gramps

old man / grandfather

a child / (figuratively) a girl, especially a dear or desired one (compare use of English baby, babe) / a smaller or younger version of a bigger object