やまんばの郷 "Home of the Yamamba," an evil mountain hag in Japanese folklore that deceives and kills people. Different regions have their own stories regarding Yamamba, and the tale from Nishido (西渡) goes like this:
Long ago, in the mountains surrounding Nishido, there lived a wicked Yamamba. Disguised as a harmless caregiver or weaver, the creature would sneak around and suck the blood from cows, horses and even townspeople. Something had to be done. So, the townspeople lured the Yamamba using its favorite treat--sweet soba dumplings. Inside the gooey dumpling, they hid a solid rock. When the Yamamba gobbled up the dumpling, the fiery hot stone inside burned her throat. As she writhed in agony, she begged the townspeople for water, but they gave her oil instead. In its panicked state, the creature gulped down the oil making her pain all the worse. With no relief in sight, the Yamamba made a desperate leap into the nearby Tenryu River, where she was swept away and drowned.
