Kodama

The Kodama are yokai from Japanese myth. They’re described as tree spirits similar to the Dryads of Greek myth. They embody specific trees and act as their “personality.” Kodama may help people if given offerings. Trees with Kodama are marked with shimenawa ropes, so they aren’t cut down. Cutting down a Kodama tree is thought to bring misfortune.

Citations:

Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Spirits and Ghosts in World Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.