You may wonder why it suddenly rains on a clear, cloudless day. You are having so much fun playing soccer and it abruptly pours abruptly forcing you to end game. The next time there is an unexpected shower, look to the trees and you may see the mischievous yokai, laughing and giggling away.
Amefuri-kozo is a naughty yokai who enjoys to rain on other people’s parade, literally. He delights in the grief of others. He is usually illustrated as a boy with an over-sized paper umbrella on his head. His free hands are sometimes seen carrying a paper lantern or casting a rain spell.
Legend has it that Amefuri-kozo works for Ushi, the god of rain, as child servant. This could mean that the yokai is part of an ethereal organization that manages the weather, and Amerfuri-kozo‘s role may be to regulate rainfall over small and remote regions. This yokai has a rain ability that may be an extension of the rain deity, Ushi. Although some yokai enthusiasts suggest that the ability to bring rain could be a spell that can be taught. A very useful spell to learn, especially during dry spells and drought.
Forgotten Tale
A certain chieftain of a hidden village shared a tale, that he heard from his grand-uncle’s friend, about an old man who walks around the village with a paper umbrella hat on his head. Apparently, when he was young farmer, he caught an Amefuri-kozo, stole his umbrella hat and wore it. Ever since then, he cannot remove it. Not even with the help with the other villagers. Only upon his death, did the umbrella hat fall off. As such, if you see an umbrella lying around Japan, do not pick up to use it. Once you use the wrong umbrella over your head, you may not remove it again.
Yokai Details
- name: amefuri-kozo (ah-meh-foo-ree-koh-zoh)
- kanji: 雨降小僧 (あめふりこぞう)
- meaning: priest boy of rain
- abilities:
- limited weather control — ability to make it rain at will
- waterproof — able to keep dry even under direct water
