Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Watahoshi, 綿ほうし, Cotton Spirit
Category: Object
The Myth
Wata Hōshi is a mysterious yokai depicted in an illustrated collection of supernatural creatures whose author and date of creation are unknown. As its name suggests, it appears as a white, cotton-like being, resembling a soft mass of cotton rather than a clearly defined animal or humanoid figure.
Little is known about the Wata Hōshi beyond its unusual appearance. It has been suggested that it might be related to the Nuppeppō, another strange Japanese yokai, but no comparable depictions or established traditions have been identified. Its origins, behaviour, and supernatural abilities therefore remain unknown.
Sources
“Wataboushi.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1025560341.html