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Chīsai-ojisan

Last reviewed Oct 25, 2026 Next review Nov 9, 2026

Painted illustration: tiny man-like figure peeking from behind a teacup in a Japanese apartment, whimsical painting — AI rendition based on witness descriptions, not an actual photo.

A 'tiny middle-aged man' of Japanese urban legend.

Folklore Verdict: We treat Chīsai-ojisan as folklore: the record is stories and local reports, with no specimen or verified photo.

Region: Asia · Japan
First reports: Around 2009

Key sightings

Mentioned in urban legend since about 2009.

Best evidence

Stories and tradition only; no physical evidence.

Sources

Wikipedia: Chīsai-ojisan ↗