by Zack Davisson in Yōkai Stories Tags: Japanese ghost story, kaidan, Yōkai Stories

Translated from Edo Tokyo Kaii Hyakumonogatari

To learn much more about Japanese Ghosts, check out my book Yurei: The Japanese Ghost

On the 3rd street in the Honsho district there lived a woman named Hanamoku. At her house, a mysterious thing was known to occur.

At the time when the flowers were sleeping and the ushimitsu plant was blooming, a horrible, rotten stench would invade the house, and a giant foot bristling with hair would descend from the ceiling accompanied by an enormous sound. If you washed the foot, it would soon disappear back into the ceiling. But if you didn’t, the giant foot would rampage though the house until satisfied.

Translator’s Note:

This print, by Utagawa Kuniteru, is called Ashiarai Yashiki (足洗邸), and depicts one of the Honjyo Nana Fushigi (本所七不思議) meaning one of the Seven Wonders of Honjo.

Further Reading:

For more bizarre tales of Japaneses Folklore, check out:

6 Types of Japanese Yokai From Showa

10 Famous Japanese Ghost Stories

When Food Attacks – 6 Types of Food Yokai From Japan

Tanuki no Kintama – Tanuki’s Giant Balls

Kappa to Shirikodama – Kappa and the Small Anus Ball

Nebutori – The Sleeping Fatty