In Japanese folklore, the long-nosed mountain goblin known for martial arts skill is the tengu.
Tengu are supernatural beings associated with Japanese Shinto belief and are generally classified as yōkai, though some traditions treat them as mountain spirits or kami. Earlier portrayals emphasized birdlike features, reflecting associations with birds of prey and the Chinese tiangou. Over time, the long red nose and humanlike form became especially recognizable.
From roughly the 13th century onward, tengu became linked with yamabushi, ascetic mountain practitioners of Shugendō. This connection helped establish their image as solitary, powerful beings dwelling in forests and peaks. They could be dangerous tricksters, but later stories also presented them as guardians or teachers.
Their martial reputation is especially connected to Minamoto no Yoshitsune. A famous legend says that, while still known as Ushiwaka-maru, he learned swordsmanship and military skills from Sōjōbō, the tengu king of Mount Kurama. Tengu are sometimes confused with oni, who are usually horned ogres, or kappa, aquatic river creatures.