Bōzu, Yokai

Boy in gaudy kimono offering a one-eyed tofu.

Just like the human world, the realm of yokai have a status hierarchy system. The strong and powerful sits at the top of the food chain. Of course, these yokai are able to cause misery and chaos nationwide. For example, the legendary Yamata-no-Orochi who can bring earthquakes and floods on a whim. On the other hand, there are low-class yokai at the very bottom of the pyramid. They serve and attends to other yokai. Moreover, some are also subservient to humans. Today, we study one of these feeble yokai. We present to you tōfukozō the original vegan of Edo.

Tōfukozō is well-known all across Japan. Although, they may not be as popular as kappa and tanuki. But, tōfukozō is the definitely the most well-liked yokai. They are mild-mannered and gracious to the humans they meet. In fact, they are frequently featured in kaidan story compilations and kibyōshi picture books of the Edo period.

Appearance

Tōfukozō is often depicted as a yound boy carrying a plate of tofu. A yokai boy who brings protein rich food to their masters. Also, he wears gaudy clothes printed with auspicious patterns. As such, encounters with tōfukozō bring good luck and ward diseases away.

Interestingly, tōfukozō delivers a unique tofu known momiji-dofu. It is a specialty of Sakai City (堺市), Izumi province. The tofu has the autumn maple leaf imprinted on it. Evidently, the tofu brings good health and luck for those who eat them.

Although tōfukozō are often seen human-like, some have depicted them with monster features. For example, some have one large eye instead of the usual, and more comforting, two. Sometimes, tōfukozō walk bare-footed with two-clawed feet. Nonetheless, they always carry their precious tofu and offering them to strangers. Tōfukozō is the original vegan of Edo.

Conclusion

Although tōfukozō is depicted as a servant-type yokai, little else is known. Legends say that the momiji-dofu regenegates one’s health and spiritual enegery. In contrast, some believe that the tofu was once human. Now cursed to be fed to tōfukozō‘s master. While others surmised, it was a ploy to promote eating tofu when meat proteins were scarce. Whatever it maybe, we may never know. But if you do happen to meet tōfukozō, accept their tofu graciously. Share your food. Or else, you will be cursed into a tofu!

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Yokai Details

  • name: tōfukozō ( toh-foo-koh-zoh )
  • kanji: 豆腐小僧 (とうふこぞう)
  • meaning: tofu boy
  • abilities:
    1. tofu manipulation — able to create, shape and manipulate any type of tofu
    2. tofu animation — power to bestow some sentience to tofu

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Suijin, Yokai

A red and shaggy ape-like creature holding a bottle of sake.

Many autumns ago, my guide and I hiked along the coast of Izu Peninsula (伊豆半島). At noon, we took a break to have lunch. The view was wonderful and it overlooked a small stretch of beach. Then, as we were about to continue our hike, I saw movements on the beach. I enquired what they were. My guide said that they are the local wild inhabitants. She called them shōjō the scarlet drunkard of the beaches.

Shōjō have red shaggy hair, like the Okinawan kijimuna, but with a reddish face just like the They are ape-like creatures more akin to the American bigfoot or abominable snowman. Unlike their mountain cousins, shōjō are intelligent sea yokai. They are able to understand the Japanese language and even say a few words. But usually, they prefer to be left in peace with their alochol.

Cozy Habitat

As shōjō are sea yokai, they prefer coastal areas, especially beach coasts. They live in caves, well hidden from the general population. Also, shōjō love to drink, particularly hard liquor. And they drink excessively. As such, you would often see them playing and frolicing on the beaches. Half drunk and half tipsy, but totally wasted.

Shōjō‘s favourite drink is the Japanese sake. In fact, they are outstanding sake brewers. Legend has it that shōjō make mythical sake from seawater. The enchanting alcohol is able to bring back the health of an old man who is on verge of death. However, it only works on the pure-hearted. The wicked who drinks this supernatural sake will be poisoned instead.

Conclusion

Nontheless, shōjō are docile creatures and prefer to be alone with their kind. But if you are on a Japanese beach with a six-pack and a red shaggy creature approaches you, don’t run. Just offer the shōjō a drink and frolic in the sand with his beer buddies.

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Yokai Details

  • name: shōjō ( sho-joe )
  • kanji: 猩々 (しょうじょう)
  • meaning: heavy drinker
  • aka: 猩猩
  • abilities:
    1. alcohol transmutation — change seawater into any form of alcohol
    2. intoxication embodiment — becomes stronger when drunk

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Mononoke, Yokai

A formless ghostly creature wearing geta.

Do you remember that night after the farewell party? The time when you were walking alone and you hear footsteps behind you. Then, when you turned around, nobody was there. Inititally, you may think that its your stalker. But, it is not. It is betobeto-san, everyone’s secret stalker.

Over hundreds of years, tales of betobeto-san has passed down as oral tradition. Interestingly, in these stories, it is without form. In fact, you can only hear mimicry of the clacking of geta. “Beto. Beto.”

Similar to okuri-inu, betobeto-san stalks a lone traveller along a mountain path. However, betobeto-san is a totally harmless. It just walks in sync with you. In fact, betobeto-san is everyone’s secret stalker.

Mimetic Words

The Japanese language has a lot of mimetic words, more popularly known as onomatopoeia. These sound symbolic words includes words that mimic sounds and those that depicts state of mind & body. The word “beto beto” is one of these words. Furthermore, “beto beto” has multiple meanings. Interestingly, the most common interpretation is stickiness. Hence, there are many mistranslation of betobeto-san as “Mr.Sticky”.

However, a more apt meaning of “beto beto” is the sound of walking wearing geta. The common footwear in times of past. Therefore, Mr. Footsteps is a better interpretation of betobeto-san. Interestingly, there is a similar yokai of the Fukui prefecture called bishagatsuku (びしゃがつく). It only comes out in winter. Furthermore, it walks in the snow, “Bisha. Bisha.”

the Japanese Way

Nonetheless, sometimes betobeto-san‘s hauntings can be unnerving. Sometimes, you just want to walk alone peacefully. As such, below are 3 simple steps to stop the annoying yokai:

  1. Step off the path.
  2. Politely bow down.
  3. Say “Betobeto-san, osakini okoshi”
    「べとべとさん、お先にお越し」

Indeed, you have just politely said “Betobeto-san, please go ahead.” As a result, betobeto-san will walk on by and footsteps vanish into a whisper. Thus, manners maketh a gracious yokai.

Conclusion

Nonetheless, next time you hear footsteps behind you, do not ignore it. Please look back and check. Because, you never know, it could be your crazy ex stalking you.

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Yokai Details

  • name: betobeto-san ( beh-toh-beh-toh-son )
  • katakana: べとべとさん 
  • meaning: mister footsteps
  • abilities:
    1. malleable anatomy — able to modify their feet to mimic any types of footwear
Yokai

A spirit child plays with a ball and a top

Two years ago, I went to Iwate for the summer holiday. My mother suggested that I stay at her friend’s sister house. And so I did. After supper, I retired to the tatami guestroom to sleep. However, through the night, I was awakened repeatedly by pitter-patters. Following morning, at breakfast, I told the owners that there are rats at the guestroom. But they just shrugged. They said, “Not to worry. You have just slept with zashiki-warashi, the naughty spirit child.”

Evidently, zashiki-warashi are house yokai that prefers the zashiki to any other room. Zashiki are Japanese-style parlour rooms to receive and entertain guests. In fact, these rooms have tatami floors with cushions to sit on. Zashiki-warashi are harmless but playful yokai. They enjoy small mischief and poltergeist activities. Also, they are believed to bring in wealth and luck. As such, they are considered guardians spirits of the house.

Appearance

Even though they are child-like, zashiki-warashi comes in many forms. The ghost child may be a girl with a bobbed hair in furisode or kosode. Or, a boy in warrior clothes. There are, even, descriptions of it being vague and shadowy but still child-like. Interestingly, only children can see zashiki-warashi. So, their accounts are somewhat inconsistent.

All across Japan, there are different types of zashiki-warashi. And they are of different rankings doing different activities. For example, there is kurabokko (倉ぼっこ) who inhabits and plays at warehouses. Another is makura–gaeshi (枕返シ) who frequents the bedroom and flips over your pillows. Especially when you are sleeping on it.

Conclusion

Nonetheless, zashiki-warashi is often tightly linked to the household fortune. It is said, if the spirit child leaves the house, the family’s prosperity would decline. On the other hand, if there are two or more zashiki-warashi inhabiting the house, wealth would increase multi-fold. So, if you have child-like poltergeist activities in your home, play with it. Or, if you meet an unfamiliar child in your home, do not scare it away. You may just chase you riches and fortune out the door.

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Yokai Details

  • name: zashiki-warashi ( zah-she-key-wah-rah-she )
  • kanji: 座敷童子 (ざしきわらし)
  • aka:
    zashiki-warabe (座敷童)
    zashiki-warashi (座敷童衆)
    zashiki-bokko (座敷ぼっこ)
    zashiki-kozō (座敷小僧)
    okura-bokko (御蔵ボッコ)
  • meaning: parlour child
  • abilities:
    1. wealth manipulation — able to attract money & riches
    2. intangibility — move through solid objects at will
Henge, Yokai

A bot-bellied raccoon dog wearing a straw hat with sake in hand.

Of all the yokai, tanuki is definitely in the top three most popular yokai across the globe. Second, only to kitsune (狐) the supernatural fox of Japan. The popularity of tanuki significantly increased after Studio Ghibli‘s Pom Poko movie. The movie showed the prowess of the tanuki as shapeshifting yokai with massive balls.

In Japanese folklore, tanuki, kitsune and mujina (貉) are the most common yokai shape-shifting ability. In fact, tanuki is the master at shape-shifting and deception. They can transform into anyone and anything. In one story, a tanuki changed into a shamisen player and then, instantaneously transform into a horse’s ass. That is shape-shifiting skills at its best.

Edo-Period Depictions

In the first volume of Gazu Hyakki Yagyō, Toriyama Sekien illustrates tanuki as a typical racoon dog. The plain creature stands on two feet staring at the moon. By contrast, contemporary depictions show tanuki as a kawaii pot-bellied yokai. One that walks on two legs and pesters Japanese citizens.

Also, many Edo period illustrations show tanuki behaving as fishermen, farmers or merchants. They fish, smoke and even participate in a matsuri. They transform into faceless man to prank village folks. However, these pranks are nothing compared to tanuki‘s massive balls.

Gold Sacks

Interestingly, many Edo period artworks show tanuki with large scrotums. As illustrated, tanuki use their malleable scrotum as sails for boats and nets for fishing. Furthermore, tanuki are renown for using their nutsacks as parachutes. In contrast, the myths and legends hardly talk about the large scrotum. In fact, only modern stories embellish tanuki‘s prowess.

Moreover, testicles are known as kintama (金玉), literally golden balls in Japan. This links back to past metallurgists who use real tanuki scrotum to make gold leaves. In fact, workers hammer thin gold sheets between scrotum skins. In fact, tanuki skin can to stretch without breaking. Some say it can stretch 8 tatami wide (about 13 square meter).

Conclusion

Nonetheless, this is far from sufficient to show the tanuki influence. In the future, we will discuss many more yokai that fall under the tanuki category. At this point, appreciate the many wonders of this shapeshifting yokai. A creature found in many Japanese myths and legends. And lastly, a yokai with mystifyingly massive balls.

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Yokai Details

  • name: tanuki ( tah-nu-key )
  • kanji: 狸 (たぬき)
  • meaning: racoon dog
  • aka: タヌキ, 化け狸
  • abilities:
    1. shapeshifting — change its form to impersonate others
    2. voice manipulation — change their voice to fit their disguise
    3. inanimate morphing — transform itself or parts of itself into inanimate objects like drums,weapons and umbrellas
    4. scrotum enlargement — able to enlarge its testicles to various sizes
Josei, Mononoke, Yokai

An old hag holding two snakes, one in each hand.

During my travels in Kawagoe, Saitama, I came across a lesser-known Itsukushima Jinja. Interestingly, there was a setsumatsuha (摂末社) that enshrines a pair of white snakes protecting a golden egg. The auxiliary shrine reminds me of a yokai that protects sacred snake mounds. She is jakotsubabā, the warden of the serpent mounds.

As it is said, there are numerous serpent mounds all across Japan. These mounds are sacred sites that enshrines snake kami. Jakotsubabā protects these serpent mounds, especially the abandoned and forgotten ones. She is the guardian that zealously attacks any unwanted trespasser.

Original Jakotsubaba by Toriyama Sekien

Red Snake, Blue Snake

Jakotsubabā bears two snakes, one on each hand. But her snakes are unlike the more popular albino snake kami of pure white. She carries a blue snake on her right hand and a red one on her left. This harkens to the opposing duality similar to the yokai namahage. Hence, the red and blue snakes may represent the male and female sex respectively.

On the other hand, the red and blue colour may be more akin to akamanto. The two colours are options and either lead to death. When jakotsubabā confronts the trespasser, she offers him a the red and blue choices. Firstly, the red choice which will reveal a red venomous snake that bites and poisons its victim to death. Alternatively, the blue choice unveils the blue constrictor snake and it squeezes and crushes its the victim.

Foreign Origins

Originally, Toriyama Sekien (鳥山 石燕) claims that jakotsubabā comes from the mythical land of Bukan (巫咸) in China. Also, Bukan is called Fukan or Wuxian in Chinese. Interestingly, Wuxian (巫咸) is also the name of a powerful shaman during the Shang Dynasty. Sekien says that Bukan lies north to the land of Jochū (女丑), literally meaning ox-woman. The jochū are girls that were sacrificed for a bountiful harvest, or so it has been said.

Additionally, Sekien writes that jakotsubabā is the wife of a great snake yokai named Jagoemon (蛇五右衛門). And, she is tasked to protect her husband’s the sacred burial mound. In Bukan, they call her jagobabā (蛇五婆), meaning Jago’s Hag. At the end of the notation, Sekien suspiciously said “the truth is unknown”.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are little information about jakotsubabā. In fact, we have more questions to its origin then we first began. But one thing is for sure, jakotsubabā is not to be trifled with. She takes her tasks and vocation seriously. The bony old hag fiercely protects the snake shrines all across Japan. Jakotsubabā is the true warden of the serpent mounds.

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Yokai Details

  • name: jakotsubabā ( jah-koh-tsu-bah-baa )
  • kanji: 蛇骨婆 (じゃこつばばあ)
  • meaning: snake bony hag
  • abilities:
    1. ophidiokinesis — the ability to influence and control all forms of snakes
    2. parseltongue — the ability to speak with serpents
Josei, Yokai

A woman's second mouth opens at the back of her head. Futakuchi-onna, the compulsive secret eater.

Recently, I met a sweet Japanese lady at a blind date. I noticed that she hardly touched her food. She kept saying she was on a diet but something was off about that. I thought nothing of it until now. Incidentally, my experience is similar to the story of today’s yokai. My blind date reminds me of futakuchi-onna, the compulsive secret eater.

According to Japanese folklore, there was a stingy miser married his wife because she never ate anything. Everyday she would cook for him but she never ate. And yet, his storage of rice was dwindling much more than usual. One day, the miser decided to spy on his wife to investigate.

Initially, everything looked normal. But as she was preparing for a meal for the miser, the horror unfolded. The wife’s hair parted of its own accord to reveal a mouth with multiple rows of teeth. Subsequently, her hair grabbed raw rice grains and stuffed it into the second mouth. Aghast with the revelation, the miser went mad and ran towards his wife. He raised his axe and struck his wife shouting, “Futakuchi! Futakuchi-onna.”

Another Story

Conversely, the futakuchi-onna story is very different in Shimosa (now Chiba prefecture). It began with a young daughter who lived alone with his father. Initially, the step-mother was caring and kind to both of them. However, after she had a daughter of her own, the step-mother became selfish and greedy. Gradually she fattens her own daughter while starving the other. Eventually the step-daughter died of hunger.

49 days later, while the husband was chopping firewood, he accidentally struck his wife. Although the cut was small, it festered over time. Eventually, the wound formed lips and her skull protruded into teeth. Although it was ache at times, feeding the second mouth rice eases the pain. But after every feed, the mouth spoke, ” I killed my step-daughter. I am mistaken.”

Conclusion

Interestingly, futakuchi-onna is similar to other female yokai such as rokurokubi, nure-onago and yuki-onna. Female yokai transformed by a horrific curse or supernatural disease. Even if futakuchi-onna was a compulsive secret eater, there was no reason to kill her, yokai or not. Nonetheless, these tales also reveal and underline stories of spousal abuse in olden times.

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Yokai Details

  • name: futakuchi-onna ( foo-tah-koo-chi-on-nah )
  • kanji: 二口女 (ふたくちおんな)
  • meaning: two-mouthed woman
  • abilities:
    1. hair manipulation — the ability to control and use her hair as extra limbs
Kaiju, Others, Yokai

A single-eyed horse head hangs from a tree

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.

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Yokai Details

  • name: sagari ( sah-gah-ree )
  • kanji: さがり
  • meaning: hanging down
  • abilities:
    1. pyrexia — give an individual severe fever
    2. body manipulation — elongates its appendages and “limbs”