on the lives — and deaths — of people who actually existed. Others are obvious flights of fancy. More than a few are a little of both. But they form the bedrock of what could be called “yurei culture” in Japan.
Ghost stories represent some of Japan’s greatest works of literature and entertainment. Nearly every Japanese has heard of Oiwa-san from the Horror at Yotsuya or Okiku, the Plate-Counting Ghost, for example. From the nearly thousand-year-old Tale of Genji to the 18th century chiller Tales of Moonlight and Rain, from Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon to “J-Horror” movies like Ring and The Grudge, it seems ghosts still have the power to terrify Japanese and non-Japanese alike.
Knowing what frightens someone is a wonderful window into their personality — which makes knowing what frightens an entire nation of people a powerful tool for understanding what makes them tick.
Using This Book
There are a lot of yurei and haunted spots out there, so we’ve organized things for easy understanding — the better to help you make it through any close encounters.
Chapter 1 focuses on the most famous female ghosts. Chapter 2 collects stories of angry ghosts. Chapter 3 focuses on spirits driven by sadness or despair rather than fury. Chapter 4 covers Japan’s scariest haunted spots, including information about how to get to them. Chapter 5 details dangerous games that can bring people into contact with the spirit world. Chapter 6 showcases some of Japan’s most famous encounters with the supernatural. And Chapter 7? Well, let’s just say it’s a vision of what lays in store for all of us. It explains what happens when things go “right” and your eternal soul passes into the afterlife without turning yurei.
So let us ask you again: do you believe in ghosts? Trust us, the yurei don’t care. They’re here, and they aren’t letting you off the hook that easily. Fortunately for you, everything you need to know about them is contained right between the covers of this book. So what are you waiting for? You’d better get started. And if you have to sleep with the lights on for a while, just look on the bright side: you aren’t alone.
—Hiroko Yoda & Matt Alt
Tokyo, Japan
2012
KNOW YOUR YUREI
Yurei come in many shapes and forms. Yet there are traits and accoutrements common to many of them. Very few if any yurei possess all of these features, but each is strongly indicative of things from beyond the grave. We created this composite illustration to help familiarize you with the basics. Think of it as a “generic Japanese ghost.” The numbers refer to the illustration on the following page.
1. Triangular headdress.
This archaic Buddhist funerary headdress hasn’t been used in actual funerals for generations, but it is a standard prop for yurei.
2. Long, stringy, unkempt hair.
Hair, particularly hair that grows out of control, is a common feature of Japanese ghost stories.
3. Crazed/aggrieved expression.
What, were you expecting a warm smile?
4. Dangling hands.
Don’t let the limp wrists fool you. They aren’t an indication of weakness, but rather a signal that you’re dealing with the dead.
5. White kimono.
The kimono of the dead are folded in the opposite manner of that of living people. (For example, the usual left-over-right lapel style would be right-over-left for a body at a funeral.)
6. Hitodama.
Although literally translated as “human souls,” these weird fireballs are generally considered manifestations of ghostly phenomena rather than actual spirits. They are commonly seen alongside yurei.
7. Lack of feet.
The absence of a physical connection to the ground is a hallmark yurei characteristic.
CHAPTER ONE
Sexy & Scary
Some of the Japan’s most famous ghosts are women. These ladies put the “fatale” in “femme fatale.”
Sexy & Scary: 01
OIWA
Sexy & Scary: 01
OIWA
Name in Japanese: 於岩
Origin: Yotsuya Kaidan (The Horror of Yotsuya)
Gender: Female
Date of Death: 1636
Age at death: Early 20s (Estimated)
Cause of death: Suicide
Type of ghost: Onryo
Distinctive features: Right side of face horribly scarred; Bald spots, with hair falling out in clumps; Occasionally portrayed as having one eye
Place of interment: Myogyo-ji Cemetery, Tokyo
Location of haunting: Tokyo
Form of Attack: Constant manifestations. Provocation of injuries similar to her own.
Existence: Based in part on a true story
Threat Level: Extremely High
Claim to Fame
Hands down the single most famous ghost chronicled in the pages of this book. A supernatural superstar for well over a century, she has inspired legions of imitators — most recently Sadako, from the hit J-Horror novel and film series “Ring.” Without a doubt, Oiwa's
