Kasa-obake

A Karakasa toy.

Karakasa (唐傘, "Chinese umbrella"), or Kasa Obake, are a type of Tsukumogami, ghosts in Japanese mythology.

Origin

Like others Tsukumogami Kasa-obake become animate when reaching their 100th year of existence. Karakasa in particular are Spirits of Parasols (umbrellas).

Appearance

Usually kasa obake are portrayed having one leg and then a foot wearing a single geta, or wooden sandal, where the handle was. They usually also have one eye and a mouth with its tongue sticking out in a silly expression.

Behavior

Kasa obake are tricksters and love to try and frighten people, but they also love to play. They will happily play with anyone, and especially with anyone who has a childlike outlook. Kasa obake love to fly around on rainy days.

Art/Fiction

• In the Yokai Monsters series.
• In Gegege no Kitaro, The Kasa-Obake is a central character
• Karakasa appear as enemies in various video games: Ganbare Goemon, Demon's World, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, Parodius Da! -Shinwa kara Owarai e-, Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja, Pocky & Rocky,Ghost Online , Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti and Ragnarok Online. In Kirby's Dream Land 2 as well as Kirby's Dream Land 3, the Kasa-Obake is a miniboss character called Jumpershoot.
• Karakasa along with nurikabe are portrayed in one Azumanga Daioh episode.

Sources

Part of this article consists of modified text from Wikipedia, and the article is therefore licensed under GFDL.