Today’s yokai is pretty interesting to me, because it is almost exactly the same as another phenomenon in British mythology known as St. Elmo’s fire (or will o’ the wisp). There’s something so interesting about two cultures, separated by about as far as you can possibly be on this planet, developing almost the same supernatural explanation. Though the Japanese version is much cuter and less sinister than the British version, it is still potentially plenty dangerous due to the implication that many other yokai are nearby… | 今回の妖怪は私にとって興味深いものです。なぜならこの妖怪はイギリスに伝わる言い伝え St. Elmo’s fire（もしくは will o’ the wisp）と酷似しているからです。
この地球上でこれほど離れた国（文化）同士でこれほど似た（ほとんど同じ）考えがあったのです。日本のバージョンの方がよりかわいく、イギリスのものほどの気味悪さもないですが、この現象の裏には多くの危険が潜んでいる事を意味しているので、潜在的な怖さがありますね。

Kitsune-bi

Kitsune-bi 狐火

Translation: fox fire
Habitat: originates from kitsune and only appears when they are nearby

Appearance: Kitsune-bi, or foxfire, is named for the magical kitsune who are said to create it. It appears in large numbers of floating orbs of light, usually only a few centimeters in diameter and less than a meter above the ground. The orbs are as bright as lanterns and in most cases red or orange, or some times blue-green, in color.

Behavior: Kitsune-bi only appears at night, often as a long chain hundreds or thousands of meters long, as if there were lanterns being carried by invisible bearers. Often the kitsune responsible for the fireballs are standing right next to the flames, invisible.

Kitsune-bi orbs are formed by foxes, which breath the ball of fire out from their mouths and use it to light their way at night. It is most often a sign that a large number of kitsune are nearby – often during yokai events such as the night parade of one hundred demons, yokai wedding ceremonies, and other processions or meetings.

Interactions: Kitsune-bi is not directly dangerous to humans, however the foxes behind it may be. Sometimes it is used to trick humans off of their paths at night. Other times it is used to lure curious humans into the darkness towards a group of hungry yokai. Following kitsune-bi usually leads a person to some place that he or she should not be. Additionally, because of its similarity to other dangerous hi-no-tama, it is generally not considered to be a good sign.

Interested in foxes, and fox-fire, and other yokai? Check out my book, The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, on Amazon.com and learn the story behind over one hundred other bizarre monsters! |

Kitsune-bi

Kitsune-bi 狐火

生息地: 狐から出ているため、狐の近くに現れる。

外見: 無数に光るふわふわした球体（大抵直径数センチ程度である）で、地上１メートル程の高さに現れる。狐火は提灯のように明るく、ほとんどは赤か橙色であるが、時折青や緑のものも見られる。

習性: 狐火は夜に長い（百～数千メートル）列となって現れ、あたかも見えない何かが提灯を下げてぞろぞろ歩いているかのように見える。 狐は狐火の隣にいるが、透明になっているため見ることはできない。

狐火は狐が口から吹き出した火の球であり、道を照らすために使っている。よって狐火は大勢の狐が近くにいるという目印にもなっているのだ。
妖怪の結婚式や百鬼夜行、その他妖怪の行う催し物の際には狐火を見る事ができるといわれている。

人への影響: 狐火はそれ自体は特に危険なものではないが、狐火の元となる狐が危険な場合はある。夜道を歩く人を迷子にさせたり、空腹な妖怪達のいる暗闇に人をおびき寄せたりもする（綺麗な光に誘われてついていってしまう好奇心のある人間が餌食になる）。 狐火についていくという事は、どこか行ってはならない所に行ってしまうという事である。

他の妖怪にも興味をもっていただけたなら、是非アマゾンから「The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons（百鬼夜行）」をどうぞ！