Abura-sumashi
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Abura-sumashi (油すまし, "Oil Presser") is a rare creature from the folklore of Amakusa in Kumamoto Prefecture that lives in the mountain passes of Kumamoto.[1]
Mythology
This spirit, which surprises people on the Kusazumigoe mountain pass,[citation needed] is thought to be the ghost of a human who stole oil and fled into the woods.[citation needed]
In the days before electricity, oil was a very valuable commodity, necessary for lighting and heating a house. As such, it was thought that the theft of oil, particularly from temples and shrines, could lead to punishment via reincarnation as a yōkai.[2]
In many stories an old grandmother walking a mountain pass with her grandchildren will say, “You know, a long time ago, an abura-sumashi used to live in these parts,” and a mysterious voice will call out in reply, “I still do!”[2] Or on rare occasions the abura-sumashi will appear to the travelers, materializing out of thin air.[citation needed]
In modern media the abura-sumashi is often depicted as, "a squat creature with a straw-coat covered body and a potato-like or stony head,"[2] an appearance inspired by the artwork of Shigeru Mizuki.[3]
References
- ^ "Aburasumashi". Kaii-Yōkai Denshō Database. Retrieved October 10, 2006.
- ^ a b c "Aburasumashi". The Obakemono Project. Archived from the original on February 6, 2006. Retrieved February 21, 2006.
- ^ "Sumoto-town (Home of Aburasumashi-don)". asahi.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved October 16, 2006.