Frozen Vows and Vengeful Spirits: Tales of Yurei part 2

Cold spirits on a spring evening and tales that chill the blood—welcome to a journey through the spectral world of Yurei, the distinctive ghosts of Japanese folklore. Unlike their Western counterparts, these spirits carry their stories visibly in their appearance: white burial robes, trailing black hair, and an unmistakable air of unfinished business.

The Snow Woman, or Yuki-onna, emerges from the winter mists as one of Japan's most haunting figures. Beautiful yet deadly, she drifts above the snow with skin white as powder and eyes that pierce like ice. Her story weaves together terror and unexpected tenderness—a young woodcutter named Minokichi, spared from her deadly kiss with a warning to never speak of their encounter. Years later, after building a life with his mysteriously beautiful wife Oyuki and their ten children, he breaks his promise. The revelation that follows—that his beloved wife is the very spirit who once spared him—speaks to the complex nature of these supernatural entities who can show both merciless judgment and surprising compassion.

Equally captivating is the tale of Oiwa, perhaps Japan's most famous vengeful spirit. Betrayed by her ambitious husband who poisoned her face to disfigurement so he could marry a younger, wealthier woman, Oiwa's rage transcended death itself. Her haunting became so complete that her husband was driven to accidentally murder his new bride, seeing Oiwa's disfigured face instead. This story, based on events said to have actually occurred, became a cautionary tale about the consequences of cruelty and betrayal—so powerful that even today, those who tell her story are said to need to pay proper respects lest they invoke her wrath.

These aren't merely scary stories to send shivers down your spine. They're profound cultural narratives that explore justice, vengeance, and the enduring power of human emotion. They remind us that some promises must never be broken, some betrayals can never be forgiven, and that the departed don't always rest quietly. Subscribe now to hear more uncanny tales from across the world's rich tapestry of folklore and supernatural belief, where ancient wisdom often hides behind the veil of the mysterious.

Transcript

Welcome to Dr Kitsune's Odd Bob Show

Speaker 1 0:05

I'm an evil-minded man . We'll keep you evil-minded too . Get evil , cause there's nothing else to do .

Speaker 2 0:23

I'm an evil-minded man , we'll keep you evil-minded too . Coming to you . Live from the land of Blooming Camas , east of Springfield . Welcome to the Dr Kitsune Odd Bob Uncanny Coffee Hour , where we're always respectful with a touch of impish irreverence . We tell stories with wit and wisdom , encouraging a strong look at Indigenous perspectives .

Speaker 3 0:50

Well now , hello there and a warm welcome to you all . I'm Saoirse , and I'm the one around here with a bit of well , let's call it vocal flexibility . Being a puka , you see , means I don't just tell stories , I become a little piece of them . So if you hear me sounding like an old man one minute and a floaty , teeny , tiny fairy the next , don't you fret . That's just my way of making sure the tale hits home . It all starts with a little . That's a signal , means I'm tuning the old vocal cords or maybe sprouting a new set , entirely all in the service of a good story . I'm tuning the old vocal cords , or maybe sprouting a new set , entirely all in the service of a good story .

Speaker 2 1:28

Glad to have your company Brought to you this week by Dr Kitsune's Red Dead Nettle Tea . One million and one uses Good for reducing inflammation , lowering blood sugar and supporting a healthy urinary system . Ever get an unusually stubborn UTI ? How about athlete's foot ? Give Red Dead Ntle a try . Tastes great , ever so soothing , sustainably harvested and sourced . Get some .

Speaker 1 1:52

I had a baby , get some .

Hemp Milk and Historical Milk Debates

Speaker 2 2:00

So , hey , how's it going ? Good , how are you doing ? I'm doing okay , a little tired . Why are you so , so tired ? The grandkids are here , oh yeah , yeah , fun it's they are . They're fun , but they're exhausting . Well , considering most of your grandkids went down the shower drain , you know oh sweet mother of god sweet mother of God , aro , go on out of that . Yeah , well , okay , you say most of your kids went down the shower and not your grandkids . I don't know your kids that well .

Speaker 3 2:35

Listen to them roaring and carrying on like they've misplaced their grown-up brains and found a bag of sherbet lemons instead . Careful now , lads , or you'll be needing a nap before the sun is high .

Speaker 2 2:45

Anyway . So what are you drinking today ? I am having espresso with some hemp milk . Hemp milk and espresso . Yeah , it just tones it down a little bit , right . I don't want just espresso and I don't want milk . You know , I mean eh , gross . Did I see you in that film ? Hair ? A little bit right . I don't want just espresso and I don't want milk .

Speaker 3 3:05

You know , I mean , yeah , gross did I see you in that film ?

Speaker 2 3:08

hair you hippie who was the first person to drink something from the teat of a cow I want to know who that person was .

Speaker 2 3:16

I know my kids have asked me this um , I don't know . I think it comes down to like , if you're hungry enough , you're gonna try it . You say , why not , I'm just gonna go pull on that teat . Yeah , like well , I mean imagine that , okay , let's , let's go back in time , let's take a trip backwards in time . With all the teats in the world , you decide to pull on a hemp teat . Let's say that you're you're a primitive man and you see off in the distance . There's a cow up there on the hill with some big old udders , right ?

Speaker 2 3:45

And the cow says my eyes are up here , guys , my eyes are up here and then you see this baby calf run over and just start sucking away , getting lots of milk . And you're starving and you say I want to get kicked in the head by a cow .

Speaker 3 3:59

And you're thinking boy , am I desperate .

Speaker 2 4:02

Eh might not be too bad , I guarantee you . No native person has ever gone up to a bison , although maybe a tourist , would . I mean , it is tourist season now , so do you think it's a European thing , is that ?

Speaker 1 4:16

what you're saying . I think it's a purely European thing .

Speaker 3 4:19

In the old days , when I was out in the woods for a few days , my packing list was something like sharp knife , good sense , maybe pull the blanket if it was winter . I came back with dinner , not just Instagram stories of surviving the wilderness with a heated sleeping bag . Now you lot are like .

Speaker 1 4:38

You're getting all geared up for your big camping trip this weekend . Huh , I saw your pack list Solar-powered phone charger charger , rooftop tent , portable french press for your gourmet coffee and enough bug spray to defoliate a small county , hey you enjoy that ? Wi-fi hotspot out there in the deep woods behind the campground . Just watch out for those super aggressive squirrels okay , probably , probably .

Speaker 2 5:07

But I , because I could see . I could definitely see , like

Modern Camping vs Traditional Ways

Speaker 2 5:10

you know , my great grandpa doing something like that well , I was standing in line at the grocery store the other day and I was buying some lengua , you know , some tongue cow tongue .

Speaker 3 5:19

For some lengua tacos tacos tacos lengua yeah , taco and this woman in front of me .

Speaker 2 5:25

She says Ew , that came from a cow's mouth . I looked over in her cart and she had a couple dozen eggs . I just looked at the eggs , I looked at her , I looked back at the eggs , I didn't have to say anything . The cloaca . Yep .

Speaker 3 5:46

Also known as the vent .

Speaker 2 5:47

Cow tongue's not bad . No , I don't mind , I kind of like cow tongue . It was very cheap . It was on sale . Yeah , sure , just another muscle . 49 cents a pound oh wow , you can get . What are you drinking ? Oh , I am drinking iced tea . Yeah , probably just Lipton , but it's iced tea . I felt it would be fitting , since we're talking about Yurei today . Yeah , and I think one of the stories that we're going to have is about the ice maiden or the snow maiden . Oh okay , it's a Yurei , a Japanese ghost .

Speaker 3 6:29

What A ghost that uh here Smell these Excuse me Bless you .

Speaker 2 6:39

Allergy season Mitch blew up . Knock it off , saoirse ,

Understanding Japanese Yurei Ghosts

Speaker 2 6:50

knock it off . And Saoirse , what are you drinking today ?

Speaker 3 6:56

I'm drinking Japanese shochu mixed with matcha over crushed ice . Strong , cold spirits for a brisk spring evening .

Speaker 2 7:02

Nice . So I have to have you clarify for me again . There is yurei , and then there's something else that's very similar . That I heard online was meant like a Japanese schoolgirl or something , right , because we want to be really careful that we're talking about one and not the other .

Speaker 1 7:19

I don't know what you put in the search engine to come up with Japanese schoolgirl . I think you put somethinggirl , it was just there .

Speaker 2 7:26

It was just there yeah that's what they all say .

Speaker 1 7:28

I didn't go looking for it .

Speaker 2 7:29

Dear Jesus I don't know how that got there In that old accounting folder , the travel folder .

Speaker 3 7:44

You idiot boys .

Speaker 2 7:48

Last time we talked about these Saoirse .

Speaker 3 7:53

Odd Bob .

Speaker 2 7:54

You had done this really great explanation of what the URA are Blah blah , blah so should we just refer to that ?

Speaker 3 8:02

Okay then .

Speaker 2 8:02

Would you mind refreshing us on what a yuri is ? Yeah , just do it like you did last time like last time like , like , exactly like you did last time just like someone was to compare , it would sound exactly the same all righty here goes all right all right , then all right , all right do it then here goes then go I will change .

Speaker 6 8:22

Now Do it , then here goes , then go , I will change now , these yurei , they carry their stories so visibly the white robes , the trailing hair . It's a language of loss , unlike the sea , who often cloak themselves in glamour and illusion . And this clinging to specific places , the jibakure , it speaks of a deep connection to the land , even in death . It makes one wonder what unfinished business holds them so tightly . Perhaps a bargain broken , a love unrequited tales we understand well enough across any world . Sometimes they are accompanied by hitodama will-o'-the-wisps . There are various types of yurei , including onryo , vengeful ghosts seeking retribution . Ubume ghosts of mothers who died in childbirth , returning to care for their children . Funa yureis of those who died at sea . Zashiki warashi Child spirits that can bring good fortune . Jibakure Ghosts tied to a specific location , like ink bleeding into white silk . These yūrei , that dark , tangled hair against the pale cloth , a stark image of sorrow .

Speaker 2 9:55

Like a sigh on the wind . Okay , that was a great refresher , Not exactly like last time , but it was really really close . Good job , Saoirse . Thank you .

Speaker 3 10:09

Don't be thanking me . Thank yourself for asking .

Speaker 2 10:12

So , mitch , what Uri's story do you have Uri ? Uri's story , not the schoolgirl one . I still don't know what you were punching in your search engine to get schoolgirl out of it . It wasn't me . It wasn't me , no , it's probably AI .

Speaker 1 10:25

remembering all your past searches and comparing .

Speaker 2 10:29

But hey , you know , tentacles , schoolgirls , they all come up on your search engine . Probably I don't eat octopus , I don't . I'll eat just about anything , maybe a little calamari . Well , there is a story that I like , but I can't quite remember .

Speaker 3 10:46

You know , I happen to have a story told to me by your great-great-grandfather .

Speaker 2 10:51

Wait a second . You mean his great-great-grandfather or mine ?

Speaker 3 10:57

Kiyota Kitsune-sama the lucky one , Whereas your great-great-granddad was Mickey the Seussed or some other cursed individual .

Speaker 2 11:05

Well then , I think I'd like to hear that story .

Speaker 3 11:08

I'll tell you .

Speaker 2 11:09

Yeah , I'm intrigued .

Speaker 3 11:10

I'm intriguing .

Speaker 2 11:11

Please go ahead .

Speaker 3 11:13

Okay , then I will .

The Yuki-onna Snow Woman Tale

Speaker 5 11:20

Sure , the Emerald Isles can get a bit of a chill , but it's nothing like the deep , cold snows of my homeland where the Yuki-onna dwells , you ask about her .

Speaker 5 11:36

Eh , a fitting story for a chilly evening , and one I've heard since I was a small child . It has been passed down from elder to child for time out of mind . For time out of mind , they say . The Yuki-ana , the snow woman , is a spirit of the snow and ice . She is beautiful , with skin as white as fresh powder , her hair like black silk and her silver eyes will pierce you with an icy gaze . Her tall form drifts above the snow , imperceivable from the mist at first , her breath like an icy fog that freezes you to the bone . Her kiss , if you are lucky enough to get one , will remove the breath of life from you , freezing your very soul .

Speaker 5 12:40

There are many tales , but the one I remember most clearly , the one that truly chills the heart , tells of a young woodcutter named Minokichi and his old master , mosaku . They were caught in a terrible blizzard deep in the mountains . They found a small hut for shelter , but the cold was relentless . In the dead of night , the door was blown open by a fierce gust of wind and there she stood , the Yuki-Anna . She was magnificent , ah , terrifying . She leaned over Masako , breathing her icy breath upon him , and he froze instantly . A silent statue of ice . Minokichi , young and full of life , was next . But as she leaned over him , something in his youthful face , perhaps his innocence , moved her . She paused and instead of taking his life , she warned him you are young and handsome . She said her voice like the tinkling of ice I will spare you , but you must never , ever tell anyone about this night , about seeing me . If you do , I will return and I will kill you . With that , she vanished into the storm . Minokichi , trembling but alive , carried his master's frozen body down the mountain . When the storm cleared , he kept his promise , burying the memory deep within his heart .

Speaker 5 14:32

Years passed . One winter , minokichi met a beautiful young woman named Oyuki . She was tall and fair , with skin as white as snow . They fell deeply in love and married , building a happy life together , raising ten beautiful children . Ōyuki was a kind and loving wife and mother , and Minokichi never ceased to be amazed by her ethereal beauty .

Speaker 5 15:09

One cold , snowy evening , as they sat by the fire , the children in a sleep , minokichi looked at his wife and in a sudden urge , a strange sense of familiarity came over him about the night he almost died in the blizzard , about the terrifyingly beautiful snow woman who spared his life . He recounted every detail , the freezing breath , the promise he made . As he spoke , oyuki's face grew pale , her eyes wide and fixed . When he finished , she slowly rose . Her voice , usually soft and gentle , was now cold and sharp as shards of ice . You promised she whispered , her voice rising . You promised you would never speak of it . You have broken your sacred vow . Her form began to shimmer . The warmth of the fire seemed to recede from her . The woman you saw that night , she said , her eyes now truly icy , was I .

Speaker 5 16:38

Minokichi watched in horror as her features transformed Her skin became even whiter , her hair flowed like ink against the snow and her eyes burned with an otherworldly cold . She was the Yugi-onna . I cannot forgive you for breaking your word , she declared , her voice now like the wind howling through the mountains but for the sake of their children , I will not kill you . However , if you ever cause our children any harm , or if they suffer , I will return . Return , and then there will be no mercy . And with that she dissolved into a swirling mist , drifting up through the smoke hole in the roof and was gone .

Speaker 5 17:25

Minokichi never saw her again , but he raised his children with the utmost of care and love , knowing that the spirit of the Yuki-onna , their mother , watched over them from the cold , snowy depths of the mountains . So you see , child , the Yuki-onna is not always a purely malicious spirit , is not always a purely malicious spirit . She can be beautiful , even loving , but her nature is of the cold and promises made to her must never , ever be broken . It's a tale to make you appreciate the warmth of your coffee or tea on a cold day , is it not ?

Speaker 3 18:21

I have another story of an old dear friend of mine , kaiden Oiwa , a lovely vengeful spirit watched over in the Shinjuku district of Old Edo by a keen pair of kitsune .

Speaker 2 18:33

I am vengeance , I am the night .

Speaker 3 18:37

Jesus , odd Bob , some stories demand

The Vengeful Ghost of Oiwa

Speaker 3 18:40

reverence . Now shut your beer hole and listen up .

Speaker 6 18:47

Kumbanwa . Young sirs , the air grows heavy tonight , doesn't it ? It's the kind of night that whispers old tales , tales that chill the blood and remind us of things best left undisturbed . And remind us of things best left undisturbed . You wish to hear a kaidan ? A ghost story ? Very well , there are many , like the rustling leaves of an ancient forest , but one that has clung to the hearts of our people for generations is the tragic ghost story of Yotsuya .

Speaker 6 19:16

It is said that this tale has its roots in real events , whispered down through the years , eventually finding its way onto the kabuki stage , where its sorrow and terror truly took hold . It's a story of betrayal , a love lost and a vengeance that even death could not quell . It begins with a woman named Oiwa . Ah , poor Oiwa . She was married to a ronin , a masterless samurai named Tamiya Iemon . In the beginning , perhaps , there was some affection , but Iemon , you see , was a man of ambition and his heart , alas , was a fickle thing . Oiwa was devoted , but soon Iemon grew tired of her , especially after she fell ill after childbirth her , especially after she fell ill after childbirth . His eyes had wandered to another , a younger , wealthier woman named Ume , the granddaughter of a local doctor . Ume , infatuated with Iemon wished to marry him . Her family , eager for the match , saw Oiwa as an obstacle , and so a cruel plot was hatched . They say Ume's grandfather , under the guise of providing medicine for Oiwa's recovery , gave Iemon a vial containing a potent poison . Iemon , seeing a path to his desires , mixed this poison into Oiwa's facial cream . When Oiwa applied the cream , its effects were not healing but horrifying . Her face became terribly disfigured , her beauty stolen by the venom . Some say her hair began to fall out in clumps as she combed it , the sight in the mirror driving her to despair . Can you imagine her horror , her anguish upon seeing her own reflection transformed into something monstrous ? The cruelty of his scorn was unbearable . She may have committed seibuku . Some say Iemon or his associates directly murdered her , but what remains constant is her dying breath . A terrible curse whispered against Iemon , a vow of vengeance that would follow him beyond the grave .

Speaker 6 21:19

Iemon , free of Oiwa , wasted no time . He married Ume , believing his troubles were over . But young sirs , the spirits of those wronged so terribly do not rest easily . Oiwa's onryo , her vengeful spirit , was not to be denied . On their wedding night , as Imon lay with his new bride , he looked upon her face , but instead of Ume's youthful features . He saw the ghastly disfigured face of Oiwa , her eyes burning with an unholy light . In terror he drew his sword and struck , only to realise , as the phantom vanished , that he had murdered his new wife .

Speaker 6 21:56

His horror did not end there . He fled to his new father-in-law , the doctor , seeking solace or explanation . But there too , oiwa's presence made itself known . He saw the ghostly visage of a servant . He had also wronged and murdered Kohei , and in his frenzy to strike the spirit , he killed the doctor as well . Everywhere Imon turned , oiwa's ghost pursued him . Her face would appear in lanterns . Her mournful voice would whisper on the wind If he tried to fish . The bodies of those he had wronged . Oiwa and Kohei would appear nailed to a wooden plank , floating towards him in the water . He was driven to the very brink of madness , haunted relentlessly . His life a waking nightmare .

Speaker 6 22:45

The story often tells that Imon's wickedness extended further , involving Oiwa's sister , osode , and another scoundrel named Naosuke . Their lives too became entangled in the tragic web of deceit and ghostly retribution , leading to more sorrow and death . Eventually , ayaman , a broken and tormented man , met his end . Some say he was killed by someone seeking rightful revenge for his earlier crimes , perhaps a relative of one of his victims , finally bringing Oiwa's curse to its ultimate fulfillment . They say that even now the spirit of Oiwa is a powerful one .

Speaker 6 23:24

There is a shrine , the Oiwa Inari Shrine , in Yotsuya , tokyo , and a temple , myojoji , where she is said to be buried . People say that those who tell her story or portray her in plays must show great respect lest they invoke her wrath . Such is the power of a soul so deeply wronged . So you see , young sirs , the Yotsuya Kaidan is more than just a frightening tale . It is a reminder of the darkness that can reside in the human heart and the enduring power of sorrow and the call for justice , a call that can echo even from the world of spirits . It teaches us to be mindful of our actions , for the consequences can be far-reaching and some spirits never truly find peace . Now let us hope our own nights remain untroubled . Perhaps a cup of warm tea would settle the chill this story has brought , eh .

Speaker 2 24:29

Whoa , that was intense . I actually think I remember that story . I think my Obachan told me that story and you know it was kind of a what do they call that ?

Speaker 3 24:41

A cautionary tale .

Speaker 2 24:43

A cautionary tale , cautionary . Thank you , saoirse . Yeah , basically , I think the cautionary

Reflections and Wrapping Up

Speaker 2 24:50

tale is don't be a dick . Yeah , totally , I mean Eamon what a dick . Yeah , look , aging is a normal process , like you know , it's so lame . It's kind of that . Once again , an archetypal story , though that crosses many cultures . There was a classic film called A Place in the Sun . You ever see that film ? It's an old one . Right , it's an old one . Yeah , I don't remember if it was James Dean or someone like that .

Speaker 2 25:23

One of those old-time rocker guys that basically he was dating this kind of plain Jane working-class woman and he gets some sort of job at a country club and meets a super rich , beautiful woman . So he takes plain Jane out on a boat and hits her in the back of the head with an oar , killing her , and she was pregnant with his baby and it was just Right , not good . You end up leaving the movie thinking what a dick yeah .

Speaker 3 25:53

Arsehole .

Speaker 2 25:54

My grandpa said something once he said all women are beautiful . Yeah , I happen to believe that .

Speaker 3 26:02

Some are a special kind of beauty , wouldn't you say ?

Speaker 1 26:05

Mm-hmm .

Speaker 3 26:06

I mean , I am the shite .

Speaker 2 26:09

Yes , we know that , Thank you . Well , so long as we all agree , then Anyhow , so I think that just about wraps up this episode . Yeah , I think so . It's been great to hear a couple of new stories , and I don't know what comes next .

Speaker 3 26:26

More uncanny stories you dope .

Speaker 2 26:28

Well , I know that we will probably revisit Yore again in the future , because there's so many stories out there , I'm sure , and it crosses so many cultures . You know the ghosts . Maybe another yokai .

Speaker 3 26:40

Japanese yokai For next episode .

Speaker 2 26:42

we've got lots of yokai in the bank Japanese yokai All right ? Is that even a term in the bank ? I don't have a bank full of yokai .

Speaker 3 26:49

A list of Japanese yokai .

Speaker 2 26:50

I've got a big listing of yokai . How's that ? So I made a deposit in a bank that wasn't a monetary bank once . Actually , I made several deposits into that bank .

Speaker 3 27:00

Did it generate a yokai ? Burn it with fire .

Speaker 5 27:04

It could have generated many yokai if they didn't destroy them when they were supposed to destroy them .

Speaker 2 27:09

Get the flamethrower in here , boys . It was quite embarrassing . They'd say okay , go in the room . Make sure you fill the cup as much as possible , only one cup .

Speaker 3 27:21

That's another story for another time , though , yeah .

Speaker 1 27:24

Just one cup ?

Speaker 2 27:25

Yeah , just one cup per visit , and with that , I think that we will leave our listeners have a pleasant day morning , evening , afternoon , wherever you are in your day .

Speaker 3 27:39

Maybe day covers it . Yes , all right , then I need to see a day Sleep well , maybe day covers it . Yes , all right , then I need to see a man about a horse , so let's wrap it up .

Speaker 2 27:46

Okay , well , have Grandpa Spuds do the outro , and then you can see your man about a horse .

Speaker 3 27:53

No , seriously , his name is Alberto . We go way back to Well , that's another story . Here goes .

Speaker 4 28:06

Thanks for listening . Join us next time for more Uncanny Chats and coffee and tea . You can find out more about us read show notes and get your Uncanny merch at wwwuncannycoffeepodcastcom . Until next time , remember never whistle at night eat the feckin' rich and above all else

Speaker 2 28:33

remember we are not all monsters . Thanks to all of our listeners out there . Uncanny Coffee Hour is produced by Bob Mason and Mitch Kiyotakitsune . Executive producer Gracie the Wonder Dog . Uncanny Coffee Hour is copyright protected by all laws , foreign , domestic and ubernaturalnatural . By the Unsealy Court . Oh , we need cow sounds from one of the guys trying to drink from the cow's teat .

Speaker 4 29:15

I just pray to God that we just go up there and give yourself a tea to try .

Speaker 2 29:39

Mmm Tea .