A Fun Dive into Japan’s Spooky Obake (Ghosts)
Japan isn’t just home to sushi, cherry blossoms, and anime. This October, the Yama store becomes spooky and changes to a Halloween theme featuring Japanese obake (お化け). Step inside and you’ll find playful decorations of kappa lurking by the sorbet freezers, karakasa umbrellas peeking from the corners, and eerie yūrei drifting along the aisles. Special treats and limited edition seasonal flavors bring the spirit of folklore to life, making Yama not just a store but a festive experience where tradition meets Halloween fun.
The Trickster Kappa
If you’re planning a swim in Japan’s rivers, beware of the kappa. These green, turtle like water creatures are known for pulling pranks like wrestling humans or stealing cucumbers (their favorite snack). They’re polite though: bow to a kappa and its water filled head dish spills, leaving it powerless. Some tales even say befriended kappa will share medical secrets and become loyal companions. Mischief and knowledge, what a combo!
Karakasa Obake: The Haunted Umbrella
Imagine leaving an umbrella unused for too long. In Japan, that umbrella might sprout one eye, a long tongue, and hop around on a single leg. This is the karakasa obake, a type of tsukumogami (objects that come to life after 100 years). They’re more goofy than scary, popping up in art and anime as comic relief. Think of them as Japan’s way of reminding us: don’t neglect your belongings!
Tengu: The Mountain Guardians
Part bird, part human, and entirely unpredictable, tengu are legendary mountain spirits. With red faces and long noses (or beaks in older depictions), they were once feared as disruptive demons. Over time, they transformed into protectors of the mountains and skilled martial artists. Travelers beware: tengu love testing arrogant humans, teaching them lessons in humility.
Yūrei: Japan’s Classic Ghosts
If you’ve seen movies like The Ring or Ju On (The Grudge), you’ve met the modern form of the yūrei. Traditionally, they’re spirits of the restless dead, often depicted as women in white funeral robes with long black hair. Unlike the silly karakasa, yūrei are all about unfinished business such as revenge, heartbreak, or longing. Their eerie floating presence has been a backbone of Japanese ghost stories for centuries.
More Obake to Meet
Japan’s folklore overflows with quirky beings
Rokurokubi women whose necks stretch impossibly long at night
Nurarihyon a slippery old man who sneaks into your house to sip tea like he owns the place
Kitsune fox spirits who can shapeshift into beautiful women (sometimes tricksters, sometimes guardians)
Obake are more than just scary stories…
They’re reflections of human fears, values, and humor. They remind us to respect nature, cherish our belongings, and stay humble. Plus, they’re endlessly entertaining, spanning the creepy to the downright comical. So next time you hear something creak in the night, don’t panic. It might just be a playful umbrella hopping by.
Enjoy spooky season at Yama 🎃👻