Appearance: Oiwa is the tragic and terrifying onryō from Yotsuya kaidan—”the ghost story of Yotsuya.” Along with Okiku and Otsuyu, she is one of the Nihon san dai kaidan—Japan’s Big Three Ghost Stories. Oiwa’s story is based on real people who lived in 17th century Edo.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi's portrait of Oiwa. Yotsuya Kaidan (四谷怪談), the story of Oiwa and Tamiya Iemon, [a] is a tale of betrayal, murder and ghostly revenge. Arguably the most famous Japanese ghost story of all time, it has been adapted for film over 30 times and continues to be an influence on Japanese horror today.

Sep 4, 2016 · For a definition of onryō, see http://yokai.com/onryou/, where you can also find an article about Michizane. For a story about Taira-clan onryō , see https://hyakumonogatari.com/2013/10/07/heike-ichizoku-no-onryo-the-vengeful-ghosts-of …

Mythical Attributes: Oiwa is renowned for her disfigured face, an outcome of poisoning and betrayal. Role in Mythos: Oiwa serves as the iconic vengeful spirit (Onryo) in Japanese folklore, notably appearing in the Kabuki play “Yotsuya Kaidan.”

The story of the ghost of Oiwa was a popular subject of plays during the Edo period and many ukiyo-e prints of the time depicted the actors playing Oiwa's husband being visited by her ghost. The print above shows the hideously deformed Oiwa squeezing blood from her hair, watched in horror by the actor playing her terrified husband.

Welcome to Yokai.com, the illustrated database of Japanese folklore. This is an illustrated encyclopedia featuring ghosts, monsters, and legendary figures from Japan. All of the entries on this site are based on Japanese sources including …

Oiwa is the tragic and terrifying onryō from Yotsuya kaidan—”the ghost story of Yotsuya.” Along with Okiku and Otsuyu, she is one of the Nihon san dai kaidan —Japan’s Big Three Ghost Stories.

Oct 4, 2021 · From a local legend about a real woman to the stage, the myth of the ghost of Oiwa continues to inspire horror. The blinking paper lantern hides a vengeful ghost in one of the most famous Japanese ghost stories.

Oct 31, 2010 · Oiwa (The Ghost Story of Yotsuya) A long time ago in the area of Tokyo known as Yotsuya there was a masterless ronin samurai named Iyemon. He wished to marry a beautiful woman named Oiwa, but her father, Samon, had heard of Iyemon’s past misdeeds and refused to allow him to marry his daughter.

Jun 4, 2021 · The servant felt sorry for Oiwa so he told her his husband’s plans and gave her a mirror. She cut her throat with the servant’s samurai and cursed her husband with her last breath. Oiwa haunted Iemon until he died.