Sennin are immortals living in the mountains - gods. They are capable of a lot of magic tricks like flying on an animal in the air. Sennin may appear to mortals in their dreams. There are about 500 of them. Like in life, only a few of the sennin are frequently mentioned and depicted. The rest belongs to the "silent majority". By the way, the Japanese mythology knows not only male but female sennin as well. Here are the best known - the sennin celebrities.

Chokaro - Traveled a lot and had an elegant solution to the transportation problem. He had a magic pumpkin. He only had to blow into the pumpkin and out of it came a mule. This was called the double gourd Hyotan. Chokaro therefore is always shown with a pumpkin of which a mule is peeping out.

Gama - A benign sage with a lot of magical knowledge about pills and drugs. He is always accompanied by a toad and he can assume the shape of a toad. He could also change his skin and become young again.

Seiobo - Also called the "Queen Mother of the West". She cultivates a garden of peach trees that blossom only every 1000 years. However one of these peaches eaten, gives eternal life.

Tekkai - An unlucky immortal who left his body behind to visit, with his spirit, his master on Mount Hua. When he returned his body had been cremated and buried, forcing him to inhabit another recently deceased body. It was unfortunately one of a lame beggar. Often seen carrying his crooked walking stick.

Tobosaku - The bad guy in the Japanese mythology who stole not only one, but three peaches out of Seibo's garden. So he became immortal. No wonder that Tobosaku is always shown as an old man, with a broad smile and a peach in his hand. Happy old man!

(Source - Japanese Gods and Goddesses: http://www.artelino.com/articles/japanese_gods_and_goddesses.asp)