Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: 邪魅
Category: Forest Dweller
The Myth
Jami is a wicked supernatural creature depicted as a beast with an indistinct lower body. It is described as a type of Chimi, a demon associated with the mysterious forces of mountains and forests. Its appearance is strange and difficult to define, reflecting its connection to the dangerous and unpredictable powers of the natural world. Jami is considered malevolent, a demon with an evil nature that brings harm to those who encounter it.
Jami is associated with Chimi and Moryo, supernatural beings connected to mountains, rivers, trees, and stones. Together, these spirits represent the many strange creatures and transformations that inhabit the natural world. Jami belongs to this broader family of nature demons, but it is distinguished by its wicked disposition and its unusual beast-like form.
Some later depictions portray Jami as a possessing spirit capable of taking control of people, particularly those who have incurred the anger of others. Other accounts describe it as a large boar that can bewitch its victims, controlling their minds and forcing them to do its bidding. In these tales, Jami may appear as a beautiful woman when it wishes to deceive someone, concealing its monstrous nature behind an attractive appearance. Its true form, however, is that of a fearsome beast, and those who fall under its influence risk losing control of their own actions.
Sources
“邪魅 [じゃみ] (Jami).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). August 1, 2019. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1074589119.html