Yurei: Phantoms and Spirits

Yurei is a Japanese word for ghosts, phantoms or spirits and they are entities embodying the souls of dead people. It is said that ghosts can't enter life after death because of unrealized desires, unfulfilled emotions and memories they made when they were alive. A type of ghost which is particularly familiar to Japanese people is a young woman with long hair and no feet. The first to portray this kind of ghost is said to be Ōkyo Maruyama, a painter from late Edo period. His painting became so famous that it has become a popular comic story named "Ōkyo’s Ghost". Today’s Spotlight is about illustrations of phantoms. Don't forget to check out their hair and feet!