>>3837412
The word they use in japanese is 妖精, Yōsei.
Today it's mostly synonymous with the english sense of "fairy". But in Japanese folklore they are bewitching spirits or "little people" that live in nature. Little helpers. So more like the keebler elves.

The concept of "little people" is practically universal in cultures around the world. Terence McKenna was a fairly famous "ethnobotanist" that could explain why. A lot of psychoactive substances give people these hallucinations. He coined the term "Machine Elves", that were these entities he encounters on DMT trips. They were very social and friendly, and encouraging. Probably related to the "3rd Man" effect. Mountain Climbers, being low on oxygen, can hallucinate a 3rd person that encourages them to keep going. Like a spirit guide.