Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Kasa Obake, Karakasa Kozō, Umbrella Ghost, 傘化け, 傘お化け, 唐傘小僧
Category: Object
The Myth
The Kasabake is a classic Japanese yokai depicting a supernatural umbrella. It is typically portrayed with a single eye, a mouth, and a handle transformed into a leg, giving the umbrella a strange, animated appearance. This distinctive design has become one of the most recognizable visual representations of yokai and continues to appear in various forms of Japanese imagery.
The Kasabake is also known as Kasa Obake or Karakasa Kozō. Unlike many other yokai, however, it is not based on a specific legend or established traditional narrative. Rather, it is a depiction of an umbrella brought to life as a supernatural creature. Consequently, it has no clearly established behaviour, powers, or personality beyond its characteristic appearance as a monstrous umbrella.
Sources
“Kasa-obake.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010652592.html