Mikoshi-Nyudo: Evil, Bald-Headed And Long-Necked Yokai Goblin In Japanese Folklore

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Traditionally, Japanese folklore is rich in various weird creatures, commonly known as ‘yokai.’ All are fascinating, and each has its own style. Many are loved, and others feared, but all have been part of Japan’s popular culture for centuries.

 

 "Mikoshi (見越)" from the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō by Sekien Toriyama - long-necked creature whose height increases as fast as you can look up at it) from the Gazu Hyakki Yakō - Public Domain

The Yokai creatures have accompanied people from the Edo period (1603–1868), scroll paintings, woodcuts, books, films, and video games.

Throughout history, humans have sought explanations for strange incidents, phenomena, the feeling of an invisible presence, or upsetting dreams. In Japanese folklore, such experiences have been referred to as Yokai.

Today, we present the Mikoshi Nyudo (Mikoshi-nyūdō), a well-known entity in Japanese folklore with a unique characteristic: it can increase its height when humans observe it.

This yokai—documented in various records across Japan—is not confined to a single name but is known by other alternative names depending on the region. Its name combines "mikoshi," meaning portable shrine, with " nude," which refers to a Buddhist monk.

Mikoshi-nyūdō from the Hyakkai Zukan – Public Domain

"Nyudo" literally translates to "one who has entered the way," typically describing someone who has embraced Buddhist teachings. However, this doesn't strictly apply to the mikoshi-nyudo in folklore.

Despite its name and shaved head, this bizarre creature is not a monk but a monk-like figure often encountered on mountainous terrain.

He is a bald-headed yokai goblin, usually described as exceedingly tall.

Specifically, the Mikoshi-nyūdō grows taller in proportion to how high an individual looks at it. As a person raises their gaze to take in its full stature, Mikoshi-nyūdō continues to elongate to reach great heights. This phenomenon creates an intriguing and unsettling experience for those encountering the creature.

It poses a significant threat to those who observe it for an extended period, resulting in fatal consequences. However, a protective measure has been identified to neutralize this danger. The Japanese phrase "mikoshita" ("I look higher" in English) seems to possess a kind of magical power and is believed to be an effective countermeasure. Traditional beliefs say that the creature vanishes instantaneously upon utterance of this specific phrase. There is also another way to escape from the dangerous encounter with a mikoshi-nyūdō.

"Mikoshi (??)" from the Gazu Hyakki Yagyo by Sekien Toriyama (1712, †1788) – Public Domain

According to folkloric records from the Okayama Prefecture, if you move your line of vision from its feet up to its head, it is said that the yokai will devour you. However, you can escape unharmed by looking at its head and then moving your gaze down to its feet.

However, this ancient advice, derived from the traditional beliefs of the Japanese people, remains in the realm of myths and legends and has never been scientifically verified. Additionally, not all who encountered this yokai had any idea how to escape from it, or if it was dangerous at all.

As one legend says, during the Shōtoku era, in Yoshida, Mikawa Province (present-day Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture), a merchant named Zen'emon experienced a whirlwind while traveling to Denma in Nagoya, in central Honshu. This incident led to his horse experiencing foot pain, and Zen'emon himself felt unwell, causing him to crouch down. At that moment, a giant creature approximately four meters (one to three or four shaku) tall, appeared before him. Zen'emon, at first, did not realize the danger, so he came closer. Suddenly he began to tremble in fear and lay down on the ground, the creature jumped over him and then went away.

The incident was unusual and highly disturbing. At dawn, the merchant stopped by a private house and asked: "Are there strange things around here?" The response he received was, "Isn't that what's called a mikoshi-nyūdō?"

Mikoshi-nyudo, a spirit which grows as fast as you can look up at it). From the Tanomiari-bakemono-no-majiwari. Illustration - credit: Jippensha Ikku 1(765, †1831) - Public Domain

Upon reaching his destination in Nagoya, Zan'emon began to feel unwell. He experienced a loss of appetite and developed a fever. Despite receiving medical treatment and medication, his condition did not improve, and he passed away on the 13th day. Do some yokai spread infectious diseases?

One of this yokai’s most distinctive features is the ability to change size. It may appear small when first encountered, but as an observer looks upward, the mikoshi-nyudo grows progressively taller.

This optical illusion-like characteristic is key to the creature’s supernatural nature.  Another often-mentioned feature is that he can alter its physical form, akin to creatures of Japanese folklore. Specifically, this being is often likened to two well-known shape-shifting animals: the tanuki, also known as the Japanese raccoon dog, and the kitsune, a mythical and charming fox-like creature, kitsune

The tanuki is renowned in Japanese mythology for its mischievous nature and shape-shifting abilities, while the kitsune is characterized by its intelligence, cunning, and capacity for transformation.

Interestingly, these comparisons suggest that Mikoshi-nyudo possesses not only the power to change its appearance at will but also embodies traits such as wit, charm, wit, and deceptive behavior, which are usually associated with the yokai in Japanese cultural tales.

Written by – A. Sutherland  - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

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