Tonight’s story is a ghost story, because what would Halloween be without a ghost story? Unlike much of what we’ve read earlier from Mimibukuro, this story is not analytical or skeptical; it is a straight up ghost story. I think it’s a perfect fit for the chilly, rainy Halloween we’re having here in Fukui. Enjoy!
Also, just in case you haven’t checked it out yet: this is the final night to back Echizen-Wakasa Kidan on Kickstarter! Don’t miss this awesome book of local folktales!
The Ghost of the Akasaka Sergeant’s Wife
This took place during the previous year of the monkey. A teahouse proprietor working along the horse road had business in Fukagawa, and as night fell he was passing Reigan-ji Temple. At that moment, he saw two ghostly fires – one red, one blue – but they vanished in an instant. He was a courageous man, so he walked on to the end of the temple without a thought. Then, a young woman’s voice called out to him, so he turned back.
The woman said, “I am the wife of a certain sergeant from Akasaka, but I died of illness and am buried in this temple. My husband has taken a second wife, but she is an intensely jealous person, and because of this I am not able to pass on. I beg of you, please tell this reason to my husband…”
And then she vanished into thin air. The man thought of just leaving it be, but then he thought, “If I don’t tell him, who knows what will happen?” Since he happened to be near Akasaka anyway, he searched around for the sergeant’s place and requested an audience. Being a stranger, his request was denied at first; but when he insisted, the sergeant agreed to meet him.
During their meeting, when he conveyed the young woman’s plea, the sergeant said, “My second wife’s deep jealousy is also driving me to my wit’s end.”
The sergeant gave thanks for passing on his late wife’s words, and offered the man a reward before they parted ways.
Later, the man again had business in Fukagawa and was passing by Reigan-ji at night, but this time he did not see any ghostly fires. However, a voice did call out to him. When he stopped to see, a faint female figure appeared.
“I am deeply grateful to you for passing on my words the other day. That new wife has also died, and now I have no more impediment and can finally pass on,” said the woman, bowing in gratitude.
Astonished, the man went back to the sergeant’s place to inquire about the situation.
The sergeant explained, “When my second wife died, I feared there would be trouble if I buried her in the same place; so I had her sent to her family’s temple.”
He then confessed, “My second wife was an intensely jealous person, and one time she begged a favor from me. When I asked what it was, she said, ‘Please give me your first wife’s burial tablet.’ When I asked her why, she was insistent, so I just told her, ‘Do whatever you like.’ She immediately brought the burial tablet to some hidden place and chopped it up into pieces with a hatchet. After that, she fell ill and died. What a dreadfully jealous woman she was!”
