Walking on lonely roads at night is unnerving. Especially in less urban areas, where there are more trees than streetlights. Even more so, in Okayama Prefecture, where a yokai dangles from the trees. It is named sagari, the horse head hanger.
In the past, my grandma always advised me before I leave for school. Among all her advice, there is one caution I always adhere to. “At night, always look forward. Never look up.” Undoubtedly, sagari is one of the reasons for this warning.Unlike dorotabo that strikes from the fields, sagari assaults from the trees. This bizarre one-eyed yokai appears as a horse head from the neck onward. Similar to a bat, it hangs up side down from the trees. But instead, sagari clings to the lower branches with its intestines. If you look closely enough, you can even see the entrails writhing around the tree.
Strange Behaviour
Fortunately, you can easily avoid sagari, the horse head hanger. But only if you are paying attention to your surroundings. Firstly, the horse yokai prefers an enoki tree (エノキの木). The older the tree, the more likely a sagari dwells there. So, take notice of the trees planted along the routes you commonly use.
Secondly, sagari bawls an unearthly cry when it senses humans nearby. The dangling yokai lets out an eerie whinny to warn and threaten all creatures nearby. But, more importantly, if the cries stop, it means that the sagari is very, very close. It is within striking distance. Just gather your courage and move forward. As long as you do not make eye contact, it will not attack and your life is spared.
Nonetheless, it is still unsafe for you to look at sagari from afar. Those who have made eye contact has suffered high fever and cold chills, at the same time. Best to just ignore it and let sagari be.
Yokai Details
- name: sagari ( sah-gah-ree )
- kanji: さがり
- meaning: hanging down
- abilities:
- pyrexia — give an individual severe fever
- body manipulation — elongates its appendages and “limbs”
