As the saying goes, “love is blind.” Typically, many people do not see their skeleton figure at first. They do not seek their former lover out due to revenge or hate but rather to continue their relationship. In the story, after her death, the hone-onna named Otsuya famously holds a red peony lantern while pursuing her former lover. One hone-onna is depicted in the Botan Dōrō (The Peony Lantern). They depict themselves as young, attractive women who wear a yukata or kimono. Hone-onna or “Bone woman” are female yokai seeking their former lover. The only condition is that the traveler never reveals their true identity to anyone. Instead of killing their prey, they pursue a relationship with them. They appear before lost travelers during snowstorms. ![]() When they walk, they leave no snow tracks some legends even say they float. Image via Wikicommons.Īccording to legend, even a mere touch from the yuki-onna is enough to chill you to your core. ![]() ![]() Yuki-onna accompanies lost travelers during snowstorms. They are beautiful, with smooth, snow-white skin and long black hair. Yuki-onna, or “Snow Women,” is a pale young woman that inhabits snowy regions, particularly in northern Japan. Once the jorogumo spots someone suitable, they invite the man to their house and slowly kill them. The jorogumo appears in many Edo-period writings, such as the Taihei-Hyakumonogatari and Tonoigusa. They usually seek them out in human form. Their favorite prey is young, handsome men who are lonely and looking for love. They typically live in forests, empty caves, or houses. When jorogumo are in their female form, their shadow still takes the shape of a spider. They are a type of spider that can shapeshift into a beautiful woman when they want to eat humans. Jorogumo is a type of Japanese yokai that is also an obake. Another option is to appease her with money and hard candies. According to legend, one way to survive an encounter with Kuchisake-onna is to say she’s “average” looking simply. Depending on the individuals’ answers, she might spare them or kill them. She will generally approach potential victims with her mouth covered, asking if they think she is beautiful. It is unknown who did this, but most legends attribute it to her husband or a medical procedure. Kuchisake-onna is a vengeful female mythological creature of Japan whose name refers to her mutilated face – her mouth slit from ear to ear. It features the antagonist Sadako, a vengeful ghost with qualities similar to Okiku. The legacy of Okiku lives on in modern Japanese works. The most famous example is in the internationally acclaimed horror film The Ring. Soon after, wails could be heard from the well, and her ghost would travel throughout Himeji Castle at night. Okiku was a significant inspiration behind Sadako, the main villain of the movie “The Ring.” Image via Wikicommonsĭue to Okiku ignoring all of Aoyama’s advances, he decides to kill her and put her in a well. Mainly, they are found in Kyushu, Niigata, and Fukushima regions. They are said to live in places such as rivers, oceans, and lakes. Their name is based on the imagery that their hair is always wet. ![]() Nure-onna, or “Wet woman” in English, is a type of yokai that resembles a snake-like reptile with a woman’s head. It also inspired anime such as Yokai Watch and manga like GeGeGe no Kitarō.įemale mythological creatures of Japan often seek revenge for infidelity, family shame, or murdered children, thereby challenging social norms of submission and politeness. This art scroll greatly influenced the world of Japanese demons and spirits as we know it today. It features 100 different types of demons and ghosts. One of the most famous art scrolls is the Hyakkai Zukan (The Illustrated Volume of a Hundred Demons) by Edo artist Sawaki Suushi. During this time, the art scene flourished and brought forth many depictions of these mythical creatures. These creatures have been around for centuries but only became popular during the Edo period. There are hundreds of demons and ghosts in Japanese mythology, or yokai (mythical spirits), yurei (shades of the deceased), and obake (transformed beings). Therefore, in the spirit of the Halloween season, let’s take a closer look at Japan’s well-known female mythological creatures! Their stories have influenced many aspects of traditional Japanese storytelling and inspired many facets of art. Many are beautiful, yet cunning and even deadly. Female mythological creatures of Japan are a staple of Japanese mythology and folklore.
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