Five more to keep you up at night…
Every so often, chickens will exact their revenge on the hypocritical monks who ate them, causing them to cough up chicken heads or transforming them into human-chicken hybrids known as Niwatori no so. Art by @matthewmeyerart
If the bell of your long-abandoned local temple inexplicably tolls at night, then your village may be playing host to a Noderabo, the disheveled spirit of a former monk who lost his way.
A young man mourning the passing of his former lover is shocked by her sudden, miraculous return. She visits every night, leaving him the next morning feeling exhausted. Unbeknownst to him, she is now a Hone Onna, a skeleton woman, slowly feeding off his life energy. Art by Nikulina-Helena
When a monk’s staff reaches a certain age, it may transform into a Nyoijizai, a yokai specializing in scratching those hard to reach itchy spots on your back.
I wonder if Patchwork Man, the story from Takeshi Kovacs’ youth, was a yokai.
Joe, your ghost stories are fascinating! More, please.
Sorry I haven’t commented lately. There’s a lot happening right now, but I never miss one of your posts.
Regarding pacemakers, I don’t see one in your immediate future, but don’t dread the idea of one, either. I have had one for bradycardia since 2009 and it is wonderful. The surgery was easy, the recovery uneventful, and the results excellent. I haven’t had the battery replaced yet and it is still working away. I don’t even notice or think about it except for semi-annual checkups.
“When a monk’s staff reaches a certain age, it may transform into a Nyoijizai, a yokai specializing in scratching those hard to reach itchy spots on your back.”
MVP Yokai.
Each of these monsters is preferable to most apartment neighbors, at least they only disturb at set times, whereas you can count on neighbors to move furniture at 3 am or have screamfights at dawn.