Karakasa

Karakasa kozō Yōkai

Haunted Tops: Karakasa kozō they are also called Karakasa Obake (Umbrella Ghost)

Key Terms:

(1) Tsukumogami – Ensouled Tools (too-ku-magami).

(2) Obake (お化け) and bakemono (化け物) are a class of yōkai, preternatural creatures in Japanese folklore. Literally, the terms mean a thing that changes, referring to a state of transformation or shapeshifting.

This renditions of Karakasa obake is by Togatta toy maker and amazing artisan Hiroi Michiaki. First let me say that Yōkai are not supposed to be cute but, I'm sorry there is no way this is frightful! Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way we can move forward.

Here we can see a Karakasa obake (お化け) or Karakasa-Kozō a transformed oiled-paper umbrella that has a single eye and long tongue. The handle would be its one leg. Some people will swear they have seen it hopping around on cold rainy nights! These types of Yōkai are also referred to as tsukumogami (付喪神), tools that have acquired a kami (spirit). Some are just pesky critters going around licking folks but be careful some can be dangerous to humans and quite scary looking.

Reference source: Yokai.com