trickster

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
Oni, Yokai

Kijimuna

I remembered, during my holiday in Okinawa,  having dinner one night and was served steamed sea bass with rice. Just as the waiter was leaving, I asked why is the fish’ left eyeball was missing. He replied that all the fish caught today was like that. The waiter added that Kijimuna might has taken the eyes because they are his favourite part of the fish.

In Okinawa, Kijimuna is a native yokai celebrity. The locals see them as tree spirits who like to cause mischief. These red-haired small tricksters, unlike most yokai, have both male and female genders. They are able to mate, bear young and care for their forebears. Kijimuna live, as a family unit, in banyan trees all across the islands, locally known as Gajumaru (ガジュマル).

Tales and myths of Kijimuna has been passed down through the generations for hundreds of years. They are described as child-like in appearance and behaviour. Kijimuna play mischievous pranks on villagers such as holding a sleeping man down and stealing light from your rooms at night.

Where To Find Them

If not in the Gajumaru trees, Kijimuna is seen wandering along beaches and riverbanks, sometimes accompanied by the ghostly wisps, Onibi (鬼火). The yokai, Kijimuna, are skilled fishermen who loves to eat fish and shellfish, especially fish eyeballs, but despise octopuses and chickens. There are many tales of the red-haired trickster helping humans to fish and to get rich. But eventually, the humans forget the yokai’s kindness and are punished for their misgivings.

Nonetheless, if you do visit Okinawa, and come across banyan grove, especially old ones, avoid it when possible. If unable to, be respectful of the natural area, and walk through it quickly. But most importantly, no farting. Kijimuna really, really hates farts and will throw you off a mountain, into the sea, or both, if you ever do so.

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Yokai Details

  • name: kijimuna (key-jee-moo-nah)
  • kanji: キジムナー (きじもなあ)
  • meaning: named after a old village in Okinawa
  • abilities:
    1. camouflage — hide & disappear into the trees
    2. marine magnetism — ability to attract any fish
    3. light deprivation — absorb & take light away from any source
    4. mass alteration — able to increase weight & mass