Kura yarō - [Yokai|Tsukumogami]

Kura yarō - 鞍野郎 (くらやろう) - [Yokai | Tsukumogami] - Aka: “Saddle Rascal”

• About this yokai: An old wooden saddle of a fallen warrior turned into a dirge singing Tsukumogami, after its owner Kamata Masakiyo, a loyal retainer to the Genji Clan, met his end at the hand of his former allies. It now wanders about the battleground where it was left, acting like a warrior with a stick in hand (tassel) in place of a sword, singing and bitterly lamenting the betrayal of his masters.

• Origin: This yokai was earliest depicted & named by Toriyama Sekien in his "Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro” [1784] The entry features the lyrics to a dirge which Kurayaro sings: 

"Kamada Masakiyo

 in the Hogen Rebellion 

Owes his exploits to me,

who faithfully held him

For all the honor 

I brought him in battle

You'd think he'd appreciate

his trusty old saddle, 

But the only thanks I got 

was a nick on my face,

Now my soul fades away 

as my body goes to waste!"

Then Sekien adds his commentary:

“Fascinating, So went Kurayaro's dirge in my dream."

[Translation: Japandemonium illustrated 2017.]

NOTE: Japandemonium, one of my main texts for my research, says the name of the samurai is Kamada Masakiyo (with a “D”) while most other historical sources I’ve found call him Kamata Masakiyo (with a “T”). I’m not sure if this is an alternate spelling of Masakiyo’s name or just a typo on the author’s part but I’ll be referring to him as Kamata Masakiyo for the rest of this description. And just for reference, his name in kanji is: “鎌田政清”

• The Antique in question: "Kurabane" (wooden saddles) are the top most piece of a samurai’s saddle that the samurai sits upon. It is strapped on top of several other pieces making up the full riding gear for a horse. The uma agemaki (decorative tassels) make up this yokai’s arms. The horse’s kutsuwa (bit) can also be seen in the bottom left corner of the original illustration. As Toriyama said, putting a “nick” in the saddle's face would supposedly help with control during bad weather. - notably this entry is also followed by the entry for "Abumi-Guchi" (a stirrup Tsukumogami).

[an example of an elaborate kurabane. - image source: met museum]

• History: Kurayaro’s song references events from the ‘Tale of Heiji’, an epic retelling of the wartime events of the Heian era leading up to the rebellions which sparked the Genpei war The famous clash of the Taira and Genji clans. Four centuries later, when Toriyama drew this yokai, stories from the Heian era had become the popular culture of the Edo period. They became the subjects of noh & kabuki theatre, the inspiration of ukiyo-e art prints, & much more- and that includes this yokai’s background lore!  There are far more legends & retellings of the Genpei War than you can shake a stick at, each of course with some exaggerations or embellishments to the tales. That in mind, the people mentioned were very real.

Kamata Masakiyo was the lead retainer to Minamoto no Yoshitomo, the head general for the Genji Clan. After Yoshitomo had failed to lead an insurrection at the capital in 1159, the two fled eastward, led by Masakiyo on horseback from Kyoto towards Owari (in modern day Aichi prefecture.) They fled in the opposite direction of where their enemies had expected them to flee, taking refuge in Masakiyo's father-in-law, Osada Tadamune’s mansion. But Osada’s son, Kagamune, quickly sold them both out by letting their enemies know exactly where they were hiding. Kamata Masakiyo was tricked into drinking poisoned sake and was killed in an ambush while Yoshitomo was assassinated while bathing. Yoshitomo's famous last words were apparently, ”If only I had even a wooden blade…” which led to his gravesite being decorated with wooden swords as offerings!

I can’t help but wonder if Yoshitomo’s famous last words about the lack of a wooden blade is why Toriyama depicted Kurayaro holding a bamboo stick as a sword. Hard to say.

[Yoritomos grave. image source.]

Today, the two’s graves can be visited at Noma Daibou (aka: Omidoji temple) which was built on Osada Tadamune mansion’s grounds in Minhama, Aichi prefecture, Japan.

[an epic print of Yoshitomo fighting Kagamune and his assailants from the bath (by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 1839-1892) of course in the end he was defeated.]

• See also: A few other mounted armor/weapon inspired Tsukumogami also by Toriyama Sekien include:“Abumi-guchi” “Furu-Utsubo” & “Mukumukabe”

[Art sticker & Writing by @SamKalensky (yo, thats me!) Editing by @Cattype. Part of my Hyakki Yagyo Night Parade of 100 yokai sticker series. Follow & check my shop out for many more!]