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All through the West, it’s that spooky time once more, however Japan’s ghosts and monsters don’t creep out simply round October. There are lots of, if not 1000’s of yōkai— supernatural creatures—that co-exist with people all year long.
Among the many plethora of blood-curdling figures and entities that plague this island nation, it’s the women that stay among the most horrifying. So, in honor of those horrifying females and Halloween, let’s see if we’re courageous sufficient to deal with the highest 4.
Nikusui 肉吸い “meat sucker”
Just like a vampire, Nikusui is a femme-fatal with the looks of a voluptuous younger lady who, after getting shut sufficient to her sufferer, will actually such the flesh from their bones. They’re identified for concentrating on males strolling the mountain roads of the Mie and Wakayama Prefectures late at evening.
In keeping with famed creator and Wakayama native, Minakata Kumagusu, Nikusui’s modus equipment is to flirtatiously method a touring passerby and steal his lantern, asking “Can I borrow your lamp?”, after which she bites into his flesh, draining it dry. In different variations, like within the 1785 monster compilation Hyakkiyakou – Bakemonogatari, Nikusui are additionally keen on cuddling up in mattress with indoors and absorbing his spirit.
Apparently sufficient, nikusui can be the identify of famend Osaka-based dish that’s basically “meat udon with out the udon”. This sounds significantly better than the meat-sucking monster it shares a homonym with. Do you have to be on the highway late at evening, don’t overlook to hold a couple of supply of sunshine with you, or undergo the horrible destiny of this carnivorous creature.
Kuchisake Onna 口裂け女 “slit-mouth lady”
Even if you happen to don’t know by identify, you’ve most likely seen this disturbing yōkai earlier than. Kuchisake Onna, a gorgeous younger lady in a face masks, approaches kids coming residence from faculty and, after asking them the tell-tale query “Do I look fairly?”, the masks comes off to disclose a grotesque ear-to-ear gash in her mouth. If the reply is something however “sure”, she slashes the kid within the face with a knife or scissors. Eesh!
If this monster sounds particularly merciless, that’s as a result of Kuchisake Onna is an onryō, a spirit of the useless who died in a violent method, or was murdered of their earlier life. A number of origin tales exist that make clear her existence, particularly in Gifu Prefecture, the place the rumors have been began. Some say she is the sufferer who underwent botched cosmetic surgery, and others say it’s the ghost of a poor soul who died in a bus crash in 1968. In actual fact, through the 60s and 70s, Kuchisake sightings have been so prevalent all through cities in Saitama, Hokkaido, Fukushima and Kanagawa, that it whipped the residents right into a state of panic.
Regardless of her wrathful nature, there are just a few methods to get out of Kushisake Onna’s clutches. When posed with the “fairly” query, don’t panic (simpler stated that carried out!) and use the solutions: “You look regular”, which is able to confuse her; “You look cute”, which is able to make her blush; or “You look stunning inside and outside”; which is able to make her content material. In the event you discover you’re too scared to talk, merely toss her some Tortoiseshell sweet, which is now thought of the best choice. Be sure that to replenish this Halloween!
Futakuchi-onna 二口女 “two-mouth lady”
What’s it with these monster ladies and their scary mouths? Whereas not as malicious as Kushisake Onna, the sight of Futakuchi-onna’s lengthy hair feeding rice balls to the second mouth behind her head is simply as upsetting. This duplicitously unobtrusive creature was first seen within the 1841 yōkai compendium “Ehon Hyaku Monogatari”, however, whereas the Monogatari model has a considerably ethical lesson to be discovered, the story of a girl with two mouths is way older and sinister.
All through Japan, the well-known story of The Lady Who Doesn’t Eat (Kuwazu Nyobou) has completely different variations, however all of them revolve across the similar yōkai. A peasant man marries a supposedly austere hardworking lady who, whereas spying on her at some point, discovers that she’s been stealing meals and feeding it to the black gap that lives behind her head. In basic folktale model (mukashi banashi), the person barely escapes, however not and not using a terrifying close to loss of life expertise.
Futakuchi’s harrowing story is so widespread that parts from it could possibly yearly be seen in Japanese tradition. Within the story, the person evades his monster spouse on Might fifth by hiding in a swamp full of irises, which additionally occur to be the Achilles’ Heel of Futakachi. To this present day, many individuals nonetheless beautify their eaves with iris leaves to push back evil spirits through the Might vacation.
Nukekubi 抜け首 “lacking head”
Probably the most iconic photos of creepy women in yōkai lore is Rokurokubi (ろくろ首), along with her attribute neck stretching far its her physique, however in actuality, she’s bears you no ill-will. Nevertheless, her malevolent sister, Nukekubi, is one to be cautious of. Not solely does her neck lengthen from its base, however the head comes utterly off in the hunt for unsuspecting victims, human and animal.
To some, together with references within the Sorori Monogatari, a decapitated head is the results of a soul leaving the physique. Elsewhere, within the Shokoku Hyakumonogatari, a person brings residence the indifferent head of a girl and later, the identical lady confessed her supposed sins after which later handed away. It may be deduced then that some tales of Nukekubi have a foundation in ethics, as they have been used as cautionary tales to those that lead double lives.
No matter why the pinnacle detaches, Nukekubi are nonetheless thought of extraordinarily harmful, however may be defeated logically. When you witness the monster’s head detach utterly from the physique, one ought to cover the physique safely out of website. With out a residence to return to, the pinnacle will lash out on the one accountable and finally wither till loss of life.
And there you will have it! Yōkai are available in all shapes and kinds, so you’ll want to maintain your wits about you whenever you’re out and about after hours, or else she would possibly get you. Pleased Halloween!
Josh Furr
Joshua first got here to Japan together with his household over 10 years in the past and it utterly ruined his life (in the most effective of how). When he’s not making an attempt to cross the JLPT, he’s researching Japanese historical past, having fun with 80s J-Pop and dreaming of 牛丼. He’s at the moment writing, writing, writing…largely about Japan and video video games.
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