Halloween, a festival that originated in the Western world, has gradually found its way into the heart of Japan. While the Japanese have their own set of myths, legends, and haunting characters, the fusion of Western and Japanese elements during Halloween is nothing short of fascinating. In this blog, let’s delve into how Halloween is celebrated in Japan and meet some of the country’s most famous haunting figures—yūrei.
Onryō are vengeful spirits that come back to exact revenge. They are often female and are among the most feared types of yūrei. The story of Oiwa from the kabuki play “Yotsuya Kaidan” is a classic example and arguably the most famous Japanese ghost story of all time. Written in 1825 by Tsuruya Nanboku IV as a kabuki play, it has been adapted for film over 30 times and continues to be an influence on Japanese horror today. It tells the tragic and chilling tale of Oiwa, a woman wronged and disfigured by her unfaithful husband, who returns as a vengeful ghost to haunt him and his new wife, leading to a series of horrifying events and deaths.
Ubume are the spirits of women who died during childbirth. They are often seen carrying a baby and are known to ask passersby to hold their child, only for the baby to turn into a heavy rock or disappear altogether. The idea that pregnant women who die and get buried become “ubume” has existed since ancient times; which is why it has been said that when a pregnant woman dies prepartum, one ought to cut the fetus out of the abdomen and put it on the mother in a hug as they are buried. In some regions, if the fetus cannot be cut out, a doll would be put beside her.
Funayūrei are ghostly apparitions that appear on ships and are believed to bring bad luck or storms. They are often depicted as beautiful women who transform into monstrous figures, but they can also be ghosts of shipwrecked sailors who attempt to sink ships because misery loves company.
While yūrei haunt the spiritual realm, Kappa are mythical creatures that dwell in rivers and ponds. With a humanoid appearance and a dish-like depression on their heads that holds water, Kappa are both intriguing and eerie. They are known for their love of sumo wrestling and are believed to challenge humans to a match. But beware, they are also known for their mischievous behavior and are said to challenge humans to sumo wrestling matches to steal their “shirikodama,” a mythical organ located near the anus.
As Halloween continues to grow in popularity in Japan, the blend of Western and Japanese haunting figures offers a rich tapestry of cultural exchange. Whether you’re trick-or-treating in Tokyo or exploring a yūrei-themed haunted house, the experience is sure to be unforgettable.
THE BLACK QUEEN OF DIAMONDS I absolutely loved the story from beginning to end! I told many of my Brazilian friends I was going to read this book and they informed me that Chica Da Silva was a legend in their country. The book proved to be everything that a legend deserved. Very well researched; very well written; detailed accounts and detailed descriptions of what life was like in the 18th Century.” BUY THE BOOK THE BLACK QUEEN OF DIAMONDS
Bonsai, the art of minituarising trees is a practice that requires patience, skills, and lots of love
Onsen or hot springs were deemed sacred places where people went to cure injuries and diseases
The “onigiri”🍙 , is also referred to as “omusubi”. Contrary to popular beliefs, onigiri is not a kind of sushi.
“Yosegi-zaiku” is the traditional Japanese marquetry technique which originated during the Edo period.
The Kano School of Painting was the longest lived (~400 yrs) and most influential school of painting in Japanese history…
What you have to gain by having a friend like me? You can have all
Princess Orihime (Vega) and her beau, Hikoboshi (Altair) paid a hefty price for their passionate love.
According to an epic account written at the beginning of the 14th century
The wordings, semantics and style used in a book usually give away
If you have ever participated in a Japanese traditional Tea Ceremony,
What happens when you feel a wistful longing for children but can’t conceive any naturally?
Origami meaning “folding paper” is the Japanese art of paper folding. In modern usage, origami is used
The Bandeirantes, were explorers, adventurers, slavers, and fortune hunters in early Colonial […]
Palmarians shared common needs, a common fear, a common enemy, which united them under a common government […]
Once the natives were appeased by the Jesuits, they helped in the construction of houses and public buildings […]
The innocuous times for Marranos in the Promised Land of Brazil were not to last […]
“They are of brown complexion of almost red color with well-shaped faces and noses…” […]
Anhangá and Ticê, the Lord and Mistress of the Underworld are lovers, husband and wife, and a match made in Hell. They […]
Brazil’s discovered is shrouded in mystery and its colonisation is stained with slavery. Yet since the dawn of its history, people have shown their fighting spirit for justice, fairness and a society where the diversification of skin color just enforces its multicultural background and the desire to live in peace and acceptance […]
The Japanese Calendar, origin of the name, the alphabet, ancient units of measure, maps, and the Royal Family Tree
Yuki-onna (the Lady of the Snow) is a spirit/ghost of the Japanese folklore. Varying from one region to another, different […]
The image above is a glimpse of the Tōkyō Imperial Palace, the official residence of the Japanese Imperial Family […]
On July 8, 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry of the United States Navy, encroached on Edo Harbor […]
The Genpei War (1180–1185) was the culmination of a decades-long conflict between the two dominant warrior clans, […]
The samurai is today one of the most iconic figures of Japan. The kanji 侍, which reads […]
Ninja, Shinobi-no-mono or just Shinobi were the Japan’s secret warriors, who appeared during the Sengoku Jidai […]
The image above is an old banknote of 200 yen of the Bank of Japan, portraying Fujiwara-no-[…]
The images above are sections of the Great Wall of China. The wall relates to a series of fortifications made of stone […]
There were eight female imperial reigns (six female emperors including two who reigned […]
On the eleventh day of the second month of the year Kanoto-Tori (660 BCE), Iwarebiko […]
Accompanied by a team of trusted kami-retainers, Ninigi-no-Mikoto leaves Takama no Hara for good. The new Ruler chooses […]
The legendary Three Sacred Imperial Regalia of Japan consist of the sword, Kusanagi no Tsurugi, the mirror, Yata no Kagami, […]
With origins dating back to the 6th century BCE, Shintō is today Japan’s largest religion, practised by nearly 80%[…]
When Susanowo goes to visit his big sister Amaterasu in Takama no Hara to bid her farewell, as he was […]
In the Japanese mythology, there existed seven generations of Kamis (Deities) called Kamiyo-Nanayo (the Seven Divine […]
The epic saga of the oldest, continuous hereditary monarchy in the world – the 2600 year old Chrysanthemum Throne. The royal bloodline is traced back to the Creators of the Country and their descendants – the founders of the legendary Yamato Dynasty […]
Today is called “Umi no Hi”, or the day we celebrate our seas. Covering more than 70 percent of our planet, oceans are among the earth’s most valuable
No guns, no weapons, Karate is a self-defense technique to fight with bare hands
Hasekura Tsunenaga, a Japanese samurai and the year is 1613 – unified Japan is swayed by Shogun
Porto Calvo is a municipality of Alagoas, founded in 1636. Its foundation is attributed […]
Daimyo (大名) – the Warlords who commanded huge armies of samurai and built colossal castles
Like many things in history, the Japanese national currency, Yen (円)
Emperor Akihito, the 125th emperor of Japan, reigned from 7 January