Abura-sumashi

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Abura-sumashi (油すまし, Abura-sumashi^? "Oil Presser") is a creature from the folklore of Amakusa in Kumamoto prefecture. This spirit, which surprises people on the Kusazumigoe mountain pass, is thought to be the ghost of a human who stole oil. In the days before electricity, oil was a very valuable commodity, necessary for lighting and heating a house. As such, the theft of oil, particularly from temples and shrines, could lead to punishment via reincarnation as a yōkai.

In modern media the abura-sumashi is often depicted as a squat creature with a straw-coat covered body and a potato-like or stony head, an appearance inspired by the artwork of Shigeru Mizuki.

[edit] References

• Aburasumashi. The Obakemono Project. Retrieved on February 21, 2006.
• Aburasumashi. Kaii-Yōkai Denshō Database. Retrieved on October 10, 2006.
• Aburasumashi. Dictionary of Pandaemonium. Retrieved on October 10, 2006.
• Sumoto-town (Home of Aburasumashi-don). asahi.com. Retrieved on October 16, 2006.

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