Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternate Names: Bariyon, Ubariyon, Onbu Obake, Obosaritei
Category: Yōkai, Gnome
The Myth
Along quiet roads and village paths in Niigata, travelers once feared encountering a strange child-sized being called Obariyon. It hid in bushes or trees by the roadside, waiting patiently for someone to pass by. When a lone traveler approached, the creature would suddenly leap onto their back and cry out, “Obariyon!” — a childish demand for a piggyback ride.
If the traveler panicked or tried to throw it off, misfortune followed. But if they sighed, endured, and carried the Obariyon on their back, the burden grew heavier with every step. What began as the weight of a child soon felt like a crushing load, bending backs and shaking knees. To make matters worse, Obariyon was said to chew at the scalp of whoever carried it, gnawing painfully as it laughed.
Some stories say the weight became so great that the traveler was eventually crushed beneath it. Yet more often, the tale ends differently. When the exhausted person finally reached home and the Obariyon vanished, the unbearable weight was revealed to have been a sack of gold all along. Those who endured the journey without complaint found themselves suddenly rich.
Because of this, Obariyon came to embody a dangerous test of patience. Villagers even wore metal bowls on their heads to protect themselves from its biting jaws, unsure whether the creature would bring ruin or reward. In the end, Obariyon was remembered as a yōkai of burden and blessing alike — a spirit that punished weakness, but richly rewarded those who carried its weight to the very end.
Gallery
Sources
Yokai.com contributors. (n.d.). Obariyon. In Yokai.com — The Japanese Mythology Database, from https://yokai.com/obariyon/
Interpretive Lenses
Religious Readings
- Christian Ascetic Deep Dive
Philosophical Readings
- Nietzschean Deep Dive
Psychological Readings
- Jungian Deep Dive
Esoteric Deep Dive
- Hermetic Deep Dive
Political / Social Readings
- Marxist Deep Dive
Other
- How to Invite The Obariyon