Yonakibaba - 夜泣き婆 - [Yokai]

•About this yokai•

Yonaki babā - JP: 夜泣き婆 - aka “the night crying hag” -

A pitiful looking yokai shaped like an tiny crying dishevelled granny, wearing a dirtied tear soaked kimono... She appears at night and weeps outside of houses where tragedies have recently struck. As she cries the people in the house cry even more when they hear her voice. – However, those from outside of the family that hear it, might realize that shes not crying sympathetic tears, but is rather, actually cackling hysterically: mocking those morning inside. If she cries for 3 nights straight its said that something awful will happen.

However, It has also been suggested that the yonaki babās appearance could be a signal that disaster is near. Rather than bringing misfortune herself, shes crying as a warning that someone else is about to get sick or that a disaster will soon happen, so her crying/laughter could be seen as prophetic...in trying times i suppose sometimes all you can do is laugh, after all.

•History & earliest appearances •

She originates from “Yosa Buson’s Yokai emaki” - during busons travels she apparently appeared outside of the Enshu Mitsuke inn (Today in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture.) – 

Sticker Art by @Samkalensky (yo thats me!) - Part of my Night parade of 100 Demons - Yokai & Japanese folklore sticker collection, weather-resistant 4" Glossy sticker. Check my shop & follow @samkalensky for many more!