April 7th, 2013 - Kasa-obake
You guys know I can't get enough of Japanese mythology, and today I'm going to talk about another very iconic yokai that I'm sure all of you will recognize...introducing, the Kasa-obake!
Before I begin, I should talk a little bit about the origins of some yokai. While many of these creatures are born this way, or become yokai later in life, there exist many yokai that are actually born from inanimate objects. These monsters, referred to as tsukumo-gami, are created from objects that are said to be at least 100 years old that are thrown out during end-of-the-year cleaning sessions, who grow minds of their own and seek out revenge. Such yokai range from walking sandals to animated tea kettles, but none are as iconic as the Kasa-obake.
So what item do these yokai come from? Paper umbrellas! Once used to shelter their owners from the rain, these discarded parasols have come alive as time passed, and developed some pretty humorous traits. Folded up, these creatures get around by hopping around on one leg, peering at onlookers with the one big eye they have located towards the top. Their long, lolling tongues hang out of their open mouths. Because people were always throwing out umbrellas, these guys tended to pop up frequently, which is part of the reason they stand out among the rest of the tsukumo-gami.
Despite never making a significant appearance in any traditional Japanese folktales, the Kasa-obake also remains popular due to its odd, but somewhat charming appearance, and has since been used in many illustrations, comics, and Japanese haunted houses.
However, there are other yokai that appear throughout Japanese mythology that share Kasa-obake's appearance, but lack the same origin. For example, the Yureigasa has only one eye and leg, and is an umbrella, just like the Kasa-obake. But, as to where the Kasa-obake is often seen as being kind and silly, despite being a tsukumo-gami, the Yureigasa is very malevolent, and finds enjoyment in blowing people away into the skies on windy days. There is also an unnamed yokai that shares its appearance but rather than whisking people away with the wind, it causes them to cower and become immobilized with fear when spotted on cold, rainy nights.
