Mable Mortar/Origin

Origin
The Usuoi-baba (臼負い婆, lit.: mortar-carrying hag) is a spirit in Japanese mythology and is to be found in the region of Sado, Niigata. In one version of the story, a man went fishing at the sea with a friend of his. Although their fishing spot was famous for having a lot of fish, they could not catch a single one, and as the rain started falling, their surroundings grew dark. Before long, an apparition in the shape of a human emerged from the bottom of the sea. She appeared to be an old woman with a pale complexion, her arms clutching something resembling a mortar that she carried on her back. She had disheveled hair, sharp eyes, and what appeared to be fangs sticking out from her mouth. No sooner had she taken a full look at the two men than she once again disappeared into the sea. According to the friend, this was a relatively harmless spirit called Usuoi-baba, which appeared in this region once every 2 or 3 (some say 4 or 5) years.