The Bakemono no e (化物之繪 – Illustrations of Bakemono) is a Yōkai picture scroll which dates to the Edo Period, and was likely made in the 17th Century. The creator of this work is not known. These ‘indexes’ of supernatural creators were extremely popular during the Edo Period, listing creatures, their names, and at times short annotations alongside these creatures. This scroll in question has no annotations and is stored in the Bringham Young University in Utah.

The hand painted scroll itself contains depictions of 35 ‘bakemono‘ it is in a remarkable state of preservation, measuring 44x1525cm in size. There is also extensive use of gold pigment throughout within the ‘background mists’ of the scroll. Most of the creatures on the scroll are well known, however some of them, such as the Umibōzu, Umiotoko , Nurikabe , Nakibisu , and the three-eyed Tsuchigumo are seldom seen.

This piece is also listed with the name of Bakemonozukushie (化物尽繪 – Index of Supernatural Creatures), however, in this context it comes in the form of a book and not a picture scroll. Only one copy of it in book form exists and again contains no name for it’s creator.¹

Furaribi	Uwan
Akaguchi	Shokera
Hyosube	Kappa
Nureonna	Gagoze
Nurarihyon	Kasha
Ubume	Nuppeppo
Waira	Otoroshi
Yamabiko	Nuribotoke
Ouni	Yume no Seirei
Yamamba	Inugami
Nukekubi	Yurei
Umibozū	Umiotoko
Nurikabe	Yamawaro
Mehitsubo	Ushioni
Yukionna	Yako
Nekomata	Kamikiri
Nakibisu	Tsuchigumo
Daisō

External Links

You can see the entire scroll online here: Bakemono no e Scroll Online

Footnotes

1. Brigham University Online LIbrary. Accessed 26/09/2019.

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Umibozū

The Umibozū (海坊主 – Sea Monk) is a type of Japanese Yōkai known to dwell far out in the deep ocean.¹

Other Names

This creatures goes by several other names, two of which are Umimyūdō and Umikozō.² Other areas of Japan gives the creature even more names. On the Island of Sado it is said the people call it the Tate-Eboshi and is a 65 foot tall creature which will try to drown boats. In Shiriyazaki, northern Honshu, they call the creature the Mojabune.¹

Appearance and Origins

Sources alternate on their origins, some saying they are the spirits/ghost of drowned sailors who wish to seek revenge, with others saying they are gigantic sea creatures.¹

Others believe these creatures are the manifestation of people who have no one to care over their graves or those who have died suddenly and take refuge at sea transforming into an Umibozū.²

Generally it is agreed that they have large, domed heads¹², have glowing eyes and are completely jet black in color; formed entirely of water.¹

Other sources have stated these beings are covered in ultra-fine hair, that they are humanoid in appearance and that they emanate strange moaning sounds.¹

Manifestations

Should you run into one of these creatures, talking to it will immediately cause them to capsize your boat,² rising from the water they will attempt to engulf sailors or ships whole. However, it is said you can hurt them if they are hit with a pole.¹

One source known as the ‘Kanso Jigo‘ (Speculations on Natural Tales) by Norimitsu Yanagihara states that at times, smaller ones of their kind come close to shore. One instance of this was in the village of Izumi, Osaka where villagers say a small Umibozū remained in the shallows for 3 days. The villages avoided the ocean during this time before it left one day, and no explanation is given as to why.¹

People in Shiriyazaki, say that mixing miso paste and water together and pouring it into the sea will drive the creatures away.¹

Other Depictions

Bakemono no e

Footnotes

1. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2008) “Yokai Attack: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide” Tokyo: Kodansha International Ltd.
2. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

List of Supernatural Creatures

Abura akago * Aka Manto * Akaname * Akashita * Amanozako * Amefuri Kozo * Ameonna * Amikiri * Aoandō * Aōbozu * Aonyobo * Aosagi no hi * Ayakashi * Buruburu * Chochin bi * Dōjōji no kane * Dōmeki * Dorotabō * Enenra * Funa Yurei * Furaribi * Fūri * Furutsubaki no rei * Gaikotsu * Ganbari Nyudo * Gagoze * Gangikozō * Gensuke * Haka no hi * Hangonkō * Hannya * Hashi-Hime * Hatahiro * Hiderigami * Hikeshi baba * Himamushi-nyūdō * Hinode * Hitodama * Hitotsume Kozō * Hiyoribo * Hōkō * Hone Onna * Hyōsube * Ikiryō * Inugami * Jakotsubaba * Jatai * Jorōgumo * Kamaitachi * Kamikiri * Kanedama * Kageonna * Kappa * Kasha * Katawa Guruma * Kawa Akago * Kawauso * Kazenbō * Kidōmaru * Kitsunebi * Kejoro * Kerakeraonna * Kodama * Kokuribaba * Kosamebō * Kosode no te * Kosenjo no hi * Kurozuka * Makurageishi * Mikoshi * Minobi * Momiji-gari * Momonjii * Morinji no Kama * Nekomata * Ningyo * Ninmenju * Noderabō * Nopperabo * Nuppeppō * Nurarihyon * Nureonna * Nuribotoke * Nyūnai Suzume * Obariyon * Oboro-guruma * Ōkaburo * Ōkubi * Okiku * Ōmagatoki * Oni * Onihitokuchi * Onmoraki * Osakabe * Oshiroibaba * Otoroshi * Ouni * Ōzatō * Rokurokubi * Sakabashira * Samebito * Sansei * Sarakozoe * Satori * Sesshō-seki * Seta * Shinkirō * Shirachigo * Shiranui * Shōkera * Shokuin * Shuten-dōji * Sōgenbi * Suiko * Takaonna * Tamamo-no-mae * Tanuki * Tenasobi * Tenjō-Kudari * Tengu * Tengu Tsubute * Tenome * Teratsutsuki * Tesso * Tōdaiki * Tōfu Kozō * Tsurubebi * Ubagabi * Ubume * Umibozū * Umizatō * Ushinotoki-mairi * Ushioni * Uwan * Waira * Wani * Wanyudo * Yamabiko * Yamauba * Yamawarawa * Yanari * Yukionna * Zenki and Goki

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Umizatō

The Umizatō (海座頭) is a type of Yōkai depicted in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō by Toriyama Sekien.

This Yōkai takes the form of a blind lute player in Sekien’s depiction. This may relate to the Umi-bōzu Yōkai or may even be a reference to the tale known as Hōichi the Earless. Hōichi is known to have entertained the ghosts of the warriors who drowned in the Battle of Dan no Ura.¹

External Links

• View the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō online here: Gazu Hyakki Yagyō Online.

Footnotes

1. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.

List of Supernatural Creatures

Abura akago * Aka Manto * Akaname * Akashita * Amanozako * Amefuri Kozo * Ameonna * Amikiri * Aoandō * Aōbozu * Aonyobo * Aosagi no hi * Ayakashi * Buruburu * Chochin bi * Dōjōji no kane * Dōmeki * Dorotabō * Enenra * Funa Yurei * Furaribi * Fūri * Furutsubaki no rei * Gaikotsu * Ganbari Nyudo * Gagoze * Gangikozō * Gensuke * Haka no hi * Hangonkō * Hannya * Hashi-Hime * Hatahiro * Hiderigami * Hikeshi baba * Himamushi-nyūdō * Hinode * Hitodama * Hitotsume Kozō * Hiyoribo * Hōkō * Hone Onna * Hyōsube * Ikiryō * Inugami * Jakotsubaba * Jatai * Jorōgumo * Kamaitachi * Kamikiri * Kanedama * Kageonna * Kappa * Kasha * Katawa Guruma * Kawa Akago * Kawauso * Kazenbō * Kidōmaru * Kitsunebi * Kejoro * Kerakeraonna * Kodama * Kokuribaba * Kosamebō * Kosode no te * Kosenjo no hi * Kurozuka * Makurageishi * Mikoshi * Minobi * Momiji-gari * Momonjii * Morinji no Kama * Nekomata * Ningyo * Ninmenju * Noderabō * Nopperabo * Nuppeppō * Nurarihyon * Nureonna * Nuribotoke * Nyūnai Suzume * Obariyon * Oboro-guruma * Ōkaburo * Ōkubi * Okiku * Ōmagatoki * Oni * Onihitokuchi * Onmoraki * Osakabe * Oshiroibaba * Otoroshi * Ouni * Ōzatō * Rokurokubi * Sakabashira * Samebito * Sansei * Sarakozoe * Satori * Sesshō-seki * Seta * Shinkirō * Shirachigo * Shiranui * Shōkera * Shokuin * Shuten-dōji * Sōgenbi * Suiko * Takaonna * Tamamo-no-mae * Tanuki * Tenasobi * Tenjō-Kudari * Tengu * Tengu Tsubute * Tenome * Teratsutsuki * Tesso * Tōdaiki * Tōfu Kozō * Tsurubebi * Ubagabi * Ubume * Umibozū * Umizatō * Ushinotoki-mairi * Ushioni * Uwan * Waira * Wani * Wanyudo * Yamabiko * Yamauba * Yamawarawa * Yanari * Yukionna * Zenki and Goki

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• Co-ordinates: 38°1′N 138°22′E
• Region: Chūbu Region
• Prefecture: Niigata Prefecture

Sado Island

Sado Island (佐渡ヶ島, Marsh Paddy Isle) was, according to the Kojiki, the seventh island born after the Great Land of Eightfold Isles.¹

The Nihongi also has this island as one of original Eightfold Isles. Though differs in saying it was the fourth to be born.²

Yōkai Connections

The island has connections to the creature known as the Umibozū. However, the islanders use the alternative name of Tate-Eboshi. They say the creature is 65 foot tall and will try to drown boats.³

Footnotes

1. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
2. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
3. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2008) “Yokai Attack: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide” Tokyo: Kodansha International Ltd.

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