Tsurube-otoshi (釣瓶おとし) is a creature from Japanese folklore.
Etymology
Tsurube-otoshi's name is an expression for "falling quickly" which literally means "a well-bucket dropping", and sometimes the tsurube-otoshi instead drops a well-bucket to scoop up its prey.
Description
Tsurube-otoshi has various descriptions - sometimes it is some sort of oni or tengu, sometimes it is a disembodied head, and sometimes it is a fireball.
Behavior
Tsurube-otoshi spends it's time lurking in the tops of trees along roadsides, waiting for an unsuspecting human to pass by underneath the branch it's settled on. Once it's prey passes underneath it, Tsurube-otoshi will send down either a severed head, which will devour the victim, or a well-bucket, which will scoop the victim up and carry them into the trees towards Tsurube-otoshi.