Vol.9

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1
【Harusame】
Just around the time when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, suddenly rain, rain, rain comes pouring down. You go back to see the cherry blossoms afterward only to witness the miserably wet petals scattered on the ground. The fully bloomed cherry blossoms had been ruined in a matter of moments! What a pity!

Harusame is a creature borne from the feelings of regret and disappointment of those scattered petals. Harusame is so envious of the proudly blossoming flowers that it sheds tears which become rain.

2
【Kokutan-mushi】
Kokutan-mushi is a kind of bug that reacts to people who move around a lot or who work a lot and it infiltrates their bodies. Primarily, Kokutan-mushi inhabits the figurative “guts” (as in the spirit) of a person and once Kokutan-mushi occupies that area, a person will fall into depression.

What is known in Japan as the “May Sickness” is predominantly caused by this bug. “May Sickness” is not a formal medical diagnosis but it is a common mental health phenomenon that is said to happen in Japan around the month of May when people are more likely to face stresses in their lives since a lot of changes happen then.

You can get rid of Kokutan-mushi by taking adequate rest and medications that have remedial effects toward depression or low vitality.

3
【Kewai】
Kewai comes down from the mountains and into the areas of human residence with the advent of spring. It has so much pollen collecting over its body like thick makeup. Because of the colossal amount of pollen that spreads out from it, people usually go into a frenzy, tossing themselves about in great pain from the sheer itchiness.

Not many people in the southern islands with hot weather or cold regions up north suffer from Kewai. Kewai’s weakness is the longicorn beetle.

4
【Yakaburi】
The grudges of the dead cockroaches possessed a certain roach bait trap. Not only have they possessed it, but they also turned the possessed trap into a gigantic monster. This is what you call a nightmare. And as you might have imagined, it eats everything, of course. It moves its furry hair-covered legs at an unfathomable speed, eating one house after another, from roof to the ground.

5
【Shiroto】
Note: Shiroto’s name is a pun on the Japanese word “shirouto” (素人) which means “amateur” (especially the kind of amateur that does not have significant experiences in certain activities or crafts).

Shiroto is a monster of a rabbit with no ears and with hollow eyes. In the literal sense, it does not have ears to listen to others so even if people say, “Stop!” or “Shiroto, you keep your mouth out of this!” they will go unheard by it.

When Shirotos congregate to make a group, the group can muster enough power to burn a whole village down, but if it is alone Shiroto is merely a petty entity. If you can elegantly evade its advance, it will disappear without putting up a fight.

But there is one thing you should be careful of. That is, Shiroto spews words of curse all around it. If you become cursed, Shiroto will pull your ears out.

6
【Kuroto】
Note: Kuroto is a pun on the Japanese word “kurouto” (玄人) which means “expert” (especially an expert who has mastered their craft through their long career).

Kuruto is what has become of a Shiroto that has burned down many villages and pulled many ears off of humans. Kuroto’s jet-black body is covered with the soot of the villages it has burnt and the pent-up resentments of humans it harmed.

Kuroto has hoarded a large amount of knowledge underneath its fur. It uses fire and curses (that utilize its knowledge) to murder humans. While it has robbed many ears off of human beings, that did not cause the hearing ears to grow out of its head.

7
【Kadowakashi】
Kadowakashi is a dog monster that takes its name from the fact that it used to previously appear in corners (“kado” in Japanese) of streets to snatch people away. However, after its story was passed down through generations, the point that it was a “terrifying entity that appears on any corner” became heavily emphasized and thus influenced its appearance in the modern day (as pictured here).

Kadowakashi has a nose with an incredible angle. If you accidentally stub your toe against its nose, the pain will take you out yonder.

8
【Hebereke】
Hebereke is a drunken monster with a face that’s bright red to the tip of its beak, staggering around in unstable steps. However, blood made of alcoholic spirits courses through its body, and its blood can purify poison. But you mustn’t forget to wash your hands and gargle to stay safe from illnesses.

9
【Fuuan】
Fuuan is a monster of an antiquated fan. Every night, it creates winds and disappears into thin air. It blows so many winds that people have come to rumor that in its presence, people will catch a cold while they sleep and that it blows away the oxygen around it.

10
【Umishikato】
Umishikato is an aquatic paranormal entity. It grows like a tree at the bottom of the ocean floor and transforms everything it touches (with the exception of water and air) into a transparent being. If you drown from the surprise of encountering Umishikato, no one will notice that you are gone and you will truly become invisible in the physical and figurative meanings.

If you pour vinegar on the transparent area or if you wait for yourself to dry up back on land, the transparency problem will resolve itself. Umishikato is also known as the “See-Through Paranormal Phenomenon.”

Note: Umishikato is based on the pun of the English word “see-through.”

“Umi” (海) means “sea” and “shikato” means to ignore someone or something, or to ostracize someone. In Japanese slang, the word “surū” (which originates from the English word “through”) also means the same thing as the aforementioned “shikato.” Hence, Umishikato’s name could be interpreted as “Sea-Through.”

11
【Toukotsu】
Toukotsu is the remnant of the clear craze marketing fad from decades ago. While the flames around it aren’t hot, touching it will make you half-transparent. Jumping onto the translucent design trend, it’s frantically trying to make everything half-transparent with no ulterior motives.

Toukotsu hates daylight and getting jeered. If you expose it to either or both of those things, Toukotsu starts to crack in places. (Toukotsu is unexpectedly sensitive and fragile.)

12
【Raiden Takuemon】
Raiden Takuemon is the strongest sumo wrestler around, borne from the grudges held by the low-dining tables and food that has been flipped over by old men in Japan. (Note: Such unruly behavior by men has been commonly depicted in the media since around the 1970s in Japan and while it isn’t often seen in modern times, this behavior is still recognized by Japanese people of various generations.)　

Raiden Takuemon despises angry old men and experiences heartaches when he sees the sad tears of married women who have been subjected to these men. Raiden Takuemon only appears to flip over these ill-tempered old men.

13
【Kawaiso】
Once a person becomes possessed by this peculiar creature known as Kawaiso, they harbor an urge to become the attention-seeking protagonist of a tragedy. Kawaiso always has bloodshot eyes from its constant crying.

14
【Idobata-san】
When you’re walking along a path at night, she suddenly appears right in the middle of the road. Idobata-san is a huge female supernatural entity that shows up with a physical well right next to her. She absolutely loves to gossip, talking about which person did what and all those rumors about people. But be careful not to heed her words. If you happen to hear her speaking rumors about you, you will die the next day. Apparently. “Oh, I’m just joking!” She might exclaim.

15
【Bake-bake】
Bake-bake is a bug that transforms words into illegible symbols. One can use the ancient Spells of Encoding to take reign of this bug, but a single misstep in chanting the spells will cause a huge outbreak of Bake-bake like the eruption of maggots.

Bake-bake can also possess human beings. Once you’re possessed by it, it interferes with your ability to articulate your thoughts.

16
【Goyōken】
One night, a man was having a debate with a friend.

Out of nowhere, a red light appeared from the darkness. The source of that light seemed to be something that resembled a dog.

In an incredible speed, the dog viciously barked, “You’re under arrest! You’re under arrest!” to the man’s friend, causing the friend to run off into the darkness, never to be found again.

Since then, this entity has been called by the name of Goyōken. People noted in terror that it would appear if they were having conversations amongst themselves, especially at night.

There was another related story involving a woman wearing a kimono. She had been walking alone at night and was attacked by the dog barking, “You’re under arrest! You’re under arrest!” (as the lore went) then had her kimono bitten by the dog.