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Henge, Kaibyo, Yokai

Nekomusume (猫娘)

Female characters with feline features are lovingly called nekomimi. They are a common part of the Japanese pop culture especially among otaku and cosplayers. But only a handful of them know the origins of catgirls originate and its relationship to another feline yokai, Neko-musume.

Neko-musume is a type of kaibyo that is quite different from the other cat-yokai counterparts such as the nekomata and bakeneko. She is usually described as a young girl with cat ears, and sometimes a feline tail.

Early documents about the neko-musume can be traced back to the misemono (見世物) of the 1700s. A Japanese sideshow carnival full of curiosities and oddities, mostly fakes and forgeries made by worksmiths. Around 1769, there is a show, in Asakusa district of Edo, that became very popular because it had a cat-girl as one of its exhibitor. Many who went and saw, swore that she was a genuine yokai with real feline features.

Human Connections

There are also many stories from the Edo period, of neko-musume that are of human parentage. They live with their parents and some even go to school. Neko-musume enjoy hunting for mice and rats, as such, she is seen as a benefit to the village and society.

So the next time you see a girl with cat ears, walking along the streets, maybe she’s not a cosplayer. Maybe, she’s a real yokai who can help you catch rodents and maybe even be a life-time companion.

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Yokai Details

  • name: neko-musume (neh-koh-moo-soo-meh)
  • kanji: 猫娘 (ねこむすめ )
  • meaning: cat girl or daughter of cats
  • abilities
    1. hyper senses — possess acute sense of smell and hearing
    2. super agility — a very good sense of balance and body coordination
    3. high metabolism — able to heal quickly from minor ailments and injuries
Josei, Warai-onago, Yokai

Ohaguro Bettari (お歯黒べったり)

In Tohoku region of Japan, a young foreign tourist was hiking up a mountain to visit a remote temple but reached it later than intended. As the sun was setting in the horizon, he was surprised to see a wedding bride waiting by the temple torii gates. Slowly, she turned her head around and threw the foreigner a big smile. The last thing the tourist remembered, before fainting, was the black teeth of the yokai.

Ohaguro bettari is a female yokai known for her thick white makeup and blackened teeth. She is usually seen, during the witching hour of dusk, dressed in white bridal  kimono. Ohaguro bettari will patiently wait, near temples and shrines, for young and eligible men. Those curious, will come withing range of the yokai’s charm and be under her hypnotic spell. 

Once the person is within arms length, ohaguro bettari will slowly reveal her wide black grin, inflicting shock and terror. Panic-stricken, the man will flee while the yokai cackles with a frightful joy. Some unfortunate men even claimed to be licked by the ohaguro bettari. The licked area would have the foul smell of saliva for weeks on end.

Past Stories

Many old documents described the ohaguro bettari as faceless (without eyes or nose) which make experts believe that it is a type of nopperabo. In addition to this, nopperabo are described as favourite transformations of the kitsune and tanuki. Does this mean that ohaguro bettari are actually these just mentioned animal yokai? Too far-fetched?

Either ways, ohaguro bettari is still a yokai and should not be underestimated. So if you see a lady in a bridal dress all alone, best to avoid an encounter and walk the opposite direction. Unless, of course, if you want a black toothy and revolting grin.

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Yokai Details

  • name: ohaguro bettari (oh-hah-goo-roh-bet-tah-ree)
  • kanji: お歯黒べったり (おはぐろべったり)
  • meaning: sticky black teeth 
  • abilities:
    1. bewitching aura — charm a person within range to drop their guard  
    2. cackle of the crone — loud laugh that cancels out all noise except the laughter 
    3. nasty lick — deposits irremovable foul saliva that smells of morning breath
Mononoke, Suijin, Yokai

Tomokazuki (トモカヅキ)

Over the many yokai experiences, those that arise from the endless sea are the scariest of the lot. The creature, I’ll be discussing, today is no different. This underwater yokai is said to be the main cause of many unsolved drowning accidents off the shore of Japan.

Over the many yokai experiences, those that arise from the endless sea are the scariest of the lot. The creature, I’ll be discussing, today is no different. This underwater yokai is said to be the main cause of many unsolved drowning accidents off the shore of Japan.

Underwater divers have always been cautioned and warned about the dangers of the deep waters and underwater currents. These include stories of vacationers how have claimed to have seen their double while diving in the deep ocean. These apparations are most likely to be the works of Tomokazuki. The yokai will beckon its victim deeper into the ocean and further away from the diving group. 

Origin Story

Tomokazuki is well known and feared among the Ama (海人) community of female pearl divers. Tales of close encounters indicate that the ocean yokai usually appear during a cloudy weather. The doppelganger Tomokazuki is described as dressed similar to the pearl diver and lures her victims deeper into the ocean by offering larger abalones. Many who were enticed had drowned and died. Ama of the Shima Peninsula mark their tools and clothes with talismanic symbols of the seiman (セーマン) and doman (ドーマン) to protect themselves from Tomokazuki and shiri-koboshi. 

If you do see someone unfamiliar while scuba dive in the waters of Japan, there are indicators that can identify a Tomokazuki. For the Ama divers, the yokai’s headband are much longer. On the other hand, for scuba divers’ Tomokazauki will probably be longer flippers. Nonetheless, be safe while swimming in the waters of Japan and be away of the dangers around. 

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Yokai Details

  • name: tomokazuki (toh-moh-kah-zoo-kee)
  • kanji: トモカヅキ (ともかづき)
  • meaning: continue diving (archaic form)
  • abilities:
    • metamorph — shape-shift into any human of any age, usually woman
    • water breathing — able to breathe underwater 
Josei, Yokai

Ushionna (牛女)

In Hyogo Prefecture, near the Rokko mountain range, there is an urban legend about yokai that chases after loud and noisy vehicles. A police report of a speeder claims that he was speeding because he was pursued by such a creature. The dispatch rider describes the yokai as a female minotaur wearing a kimono. Did he come up with such a lame lie or was he just really drunk?

Ushi-onna is a very obscure yokai describe as a female with a cow’s face, or sometimes cow’s head. It is usually described as wearing a kimono and dressed obscenely like a yakuza. Interestingly enough, no male version of a cow-headed yokai has been recorded in Japan.

Reported Incidents

Most reports show that ushi-onna appears suddenly after a vehicle made a loud noise such as screeching. The yokai will run after the vehicle, as if trying to ram it down. A taxi driver claims that the ushi-onna was matching his speed even at 100 kph. Based on the facts that was available, I believe that the female yokai’s charge is an act of protecting its young. This is very similar to wild boars and rhinoceroses.

There are post-war stories of a single mother who gave birth to a baby girl with a cattle-like face. Such accounts were only heard in Kobe and Nishinomiya, both of Hyogo Prefecture. Could this be the origin story of ushionna, a by-product of the bombing raids of World War 2?

Nonetheless, be respectful of the mountainous regions of Japan and drive carefully. Do not make speed over the road limits and honk unnecessary. Unless, of course, if you want to personally meet the ushionna.

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Yokai Details

  • name: ushi-onna (oo-she-on-nah)
  • kanji: 牛女 (うしおんな)
  • meaning: cow woman
  • abilities:
    • unnatural speed — able to move and react very fast

Suijin, Yokai

Ningyo

You may have heard of the legend of a Buddhist priestess, of Wakasa province, that lived to 800 years. Interestingly enough, Yao Bikuni (八百比丘尼) did not gain longevity through mantra meditation or a healthy vegetarian diet. Instead, the reason for her prolonged life is because she ate the flesh of a yokai known as ningyo.

The ningyo is a sea yokai that is similar to the mermaids of the world. It has a fish tail as the bottom half and a human as the top. The ningyo is described as having golden shimmering scales and speaks with a soft melodious voice. But, unlike its alluring European counterpart, the Japanese mermaid has monkey-like mouth filled with needle sharp teeth.

Eternal Life

Ancient documents state that, eating the flesh of a ningyo will grant you longevity. The meat are described as having a pleasant taste with no fishy smell. Despite that, to catch a ningyo, intentionally or otherwise, is to bring misfortune to your family. Some records also claim that a ningyo found beached on shore is an omen of natural calamities such as tidal waves, earthquakes and/or typhoons.

The Wakasa legend tells of a man who returned from the mythical land of Hōrai with a special gift. His eldest daughter ate the souvenir which was the meat of a ningyo. Decades past and yet, the girl remained youthful. Eventually, she decided to become a priestess and traveled the nation, spreading the good word.

At the age of 800, Yao Bikuni (八百比丘尼) returned to Wakasa Obama. She entered a cave near the Yakui-mon gate of Kuin-ji Temple, and never left. Many assumed she has peacefully passed away, while few still believed that she is alive and continue to meditate within til this day.

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Yokai Details

  • name: ningyo (neen-gee-yoh)
  • kanji: 人魚 (にんぎょ)
  • meaning: human fish or mermaid
  • abilities:
    • longevity — consuming its flesh prolongs ones natural lifespan
    • hex — ability curse its captor with misfortune
Mononoke, Oni, Yokai

Hashihime

Once, in a clear sunny day, as I approached a major bridge to cross it, I saw a couple halfway across coming towards me. Then suddenly, the man was blown off the bridge and the woman vanished. My thoughts raced, “Where’s the yokai? What’s the yokai? Should I still cross the bridge for work?” Being a workaholic, I turnaround and work from home instead. Tasking myself to find the mysterious yokai of the bridge.

Hashihime, meaning lady of the bridge, is one of the most bipolar yokai you are likely to encounter. She loves you for using her bridge but the moment you mention a better bridge, hell has no fury as her scorn. Unlike the bridge trolls of the West, Hashihime is usually seen as a ravishing lady to the men and a handsome dude to the women.

Forgotten Tale

An old tale tells of a now-forgotten trading village that was linked to the Tōkaidō road by a long and sturdy bridge. Through the years, the village had tolerated multiple small bandit raids and their vile atrocities. But an accidental death of a bandit has brought the leader to their door step. The bandit king vowed revenge led his rouge of bandits towards the village but stopped at the end of the bridge.

A woman was standing before the bandit king totally exposed with her wild hair flying in the non-existent winds. As he rose his sword to strike the naked woman, she burst into a flaming oni, burning the bandit king to crisp. The fiery oni, then, charged forward, setting the whole line of bandits and the bridge ablaze. The villagers were eternally grateful to the Hashihime but did not rebuild the bridge, in dread of her.

Hidden Shrine

In Kyoto, there is a shrine dedicated to Hashihime, the guardian deity of Uji Bridge. The original shrine was located in the west bank but was washed away by floods of 1870. Legend has it that a lady of the courts prayed to the Kami of Kifune to make her a living oni that has powers as great as her bitter jealousy.  After 7 days of continual devotions at Kifune-jinja, her prayers were answered. She were told to perform a sacred ceremony in the Kawase River at Uji.

The noble lady returned to the capital city where she twisted her hair into five horns and painted herself bloody red. She then lit five torches, three on an iron trivet on her head and two clenched between her teeth. Once her preparations complete, she ran down the street to Kawase River paralyzing  many onlookers and scaring others to death.

Oni Transformation

She dived into the rivers and stayed submerged fueled with rage and jealousy. After 21 days, the courtly lady emerged, transformed into the dreaded Hashihime. As a living oni, she took revenge on all who she envied and anyone else related to them. Her rage continue afterwards, as she slayed many that crosses the Uji Bridge.

Eventually a shrine was built to placate the Hashihime of Uji Bridge. In modern times, there are less deaths on the bridge and visitors to the shrine has more benign requests. Prayers such as to forget an old flame or cut off ties of your complicated relationships. Hashihime is really good at burning one’s bridges.

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Yokai Details

  • name: Hashihime (hah-shi-hee-meh)
  • kanji: 橋姫 (はしひめ)
  • meaning: maiden of the bridge
  • abilities:
    1. paralysis — ability to knock anyone unconscious
    2. oni transformation — transform into a fiery demonic form
    3. fire manipulation — limited control over fire