Zashiki-warashi

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A Zashiki-warashi (座敷童, Zashiki-warashi^?), sometimes also called a Zashiki-bokko (座敷童子, Zashiki-bokko^?), is a Japanese yokai, similar to a hearth fairy. The names translates from zashiki, which refers to a traditional room in a ryokan; and warashi or bokko, which are archaic terms for children or young women, as these spirits are traditionally depicted as girls or young women. The legend is believed to have originated in the Tohoku region of Japan, but has since permeated throughout all of Japanese mythology.

It is said that once a zashiki-warashi inhabits a house, it brings the residence great fortune; on the other hand, should a zashiki-warashi depart, the domain soon falls into a steep decline. This aspect of the spirit is so ingrained in Japanese culture that corporations, seeking to improve their fortunes, have actually constructed suburban lodges to accommodate these spirits. This can be seen as futile, however, as zashiki-warashi are said to prefer older homes over new and shun office and lab spaces as they only inhabit buildings where people live.

To attract and maintain a zashiki-warashi in the home, it is said the spirit must be noticed, appreciated and cared for properly, much in the manner one would raise a child, though too much attention may drive it off. As the zashiki-warashi is child-like in nature, it is prone to playing harmless pranks and occasionally causing mischief, and when such events occur, these are best dealt with speaking gently to the spirit and forgiving the mishap. In most cases, however, the zashiki-warashi inhabits an astral plane within the home, and will only materialize when something happens, such as when the inhabitants are in grave danger or some other serious issue threatens the home and its residents.

[edit] In popular culture

A Zashiki-Warashi appears in several times in the manga and anime series ×××HOLiC and has a crush on the protagonist, Kimihiro Watanuki.
Author Kenji Miyazawa wrote two stories about zashiki-warashi: "Matasaburo of the Wind" and "The Story of the Zashiki-Bokko".
Manga-ka Senno Knife features a story about an older, more sexually inclined spirit in "Zashiki-Bokko", in volume two of his Sepia anthology series.
Zashiki-warashi figure prominently as characters in the webcomic Cafe Tengu [1]
One of the more prominent yōkai in Hell Teacher Nūbē is a small Zashiki Warashi who can give good (and occasionally bad) luck to those it encounters.

[edit] External references

The Last of the Zashiki-warashi, Awa Life, March 2002
The Story of Zashiki-warashi no geta, Nanbu Kiri Geta Preservation Society
Japanese Critters for Shadowrun: Zashiki-warashi

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