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!

Happy Halloween!

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!”

Good grief, it’s October 30th! Back in New Jersey we always called this Mischief Night, although I’ve recently learned that’s not a thing in other places. Of course here in Japan it’s just October 30th, and much to my dismay the stores are already putting up Christmas decorations! At least wait until November, for the sake of Halloween!

Two quick reminders before tonight’s tale:

First, my Kickstarter ends on October 31st at midnight! This is your last chance to join and get your name listed as a backer in the book! So don’t miss out on your chance to back this amazing collection of never-before-seen folktales from Old Fukui. These are the last 48 hours, so check it out now if you haven’t already!

Second, A-Yokai-A-Day ends tomorrow, so after tonight there is only one story left! For members of my Patreon, that won’t change much, as I will continue to post regular updates there (albeit at a more reasonable pace). However, the number of free, public blog posts I make will decrease. If you’re not already a Patreon member, now’s a perfect time to join so you don’t lose access to deeper discussion about each yokai (plus other cool benefits, like the monthly postcards and high res artwork). You can join up here.

Alright, now let’s take a look at tonight’s penultimate story! This tale is #700 from Negishi Yasumori’s Mimibukuro — the final story from volume 7. This was a particularly tricky one to envision. The creature is so sparsely described, and its dimensions are totally unbelievable. It almost sounds a bit like a pangolin, except that pangolins have arms and legs, and of course are not native to Japan. And they’re not 9 meters long either… Or else it sounds like an anaconda, but these are also not found in Japan, nor are they hairy with a weasel-like face — and yokai stories generally have no trouble identifying when a creature is a snake, as snakes have long been thought to have supernatural powers. So snake-like, but not a snake. Yet what else could it be? The final line in the tale satisfies me in the way vague yokai tales often to: “Nobody had any idea what kind of creature it was.” Negishi is just as confused as we are!

The Monster Under the Veranda of the Hikosaka House

In the third year of Bunka (1808), the year of the tiger, a minor construction manager named Hikosaka Kyūbei was assigned to Sunpu Castle and had to relocate. While preparing for the move, a strange creature emerged from beneath the veranda.

Its head was like that of a weasel, it had no legs or arms like a snake, and it was around two shaku (60 cm) in girth. Its entire body was covered in hair like palm bark, and it was probably around three jō (9 meters) in length. It came out from under the veranda and entered the garden, formed a ring and circled around the garden for a while, then it went back underneath the veranda. Nobody had any idea what kind of creature it was.