The books about specters published in recent years often contains an explanation that old cleaning rag or dish towel transforms into this specter and attacks humans with unpleasant mucus and emitting an offensive odor, making people faint.
近年の妖怪関連の書籍では、古い雑巾や布巾がこの妖怪に変化し、人間を襲い、体を覆う不快な粘液と全身から放つ悪臭で人を気絶させるという解説がしばしば見られる。