Zashiki-warashi are house spirits from Iwate Prefecture known for bringing fortune to their homes—though they're just as famous for the mischief they cause along the way. These spirits typically appear as young children, around five or six years old, with distinctly rosy, flushed faces. They can be either male or female and usually dress in traditional clothing.
What makes them tricky to pin down is that not everyone can see them. Often only the house's owners or the children living there catch sight of them, which means people tend to notice zashiki-warashi more by what they do than who they are. Their pranks are legendary, ranging from harmless to genuinely disruptive. But despite the chaos they create, they're widely considered bringers of good luck and prosperity to households lucky enough to host them.
Content compiled by AnimeList.moe from publicly available sources.