In Japanese folklore, an akaname is a yōkai said to lick dirt and grime from bathrooms.
The name is commonly translated as “filth licker,” from aka, meaning grime or filth, and name, meaning licking. Illustrations often show a small, goblin-like creature with a long tongue, claws, and a reddish appearance. Traditional stories place it in neglected bathing areas, where it feeds on accumulated dirt rather than attacking people directly.
Akaname is a domestic or household-related yōkai, but it is not the same as a tsukumogami, the supernatural transformation of an old object. It also differs from a kappa, which is associated with water and rivers. Modern depictions frequently use akaname as a humorous reminder to keep bathrooms clean, while older yōkai encyclopedias helped standardize its familiar appearance.