Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Hone Kujira, Bone Whale
Category: Whale
The Myth
The Bakekujira is a gigantic whale skeleton that swims near the surface of the sea, rising as it did in life to breathe. It appears on rainy nights near coastal whaling villages in the Sea of Japan and is accompanied by eerie birds and strange fish.
According to legend, the souls of whales killed by humans become Bakekujira, seeking revenge against those who took their lives. Anyone who witnesses one is afflicted with a terrible curse that they carry back to their village. The curse brings famine, plague, fires, and other disasters.
One rainy night, fishermen on the Shimane Peninsula spotted an enormous white shape swimming offshore. Believing it to be a whale, they gathered the villagers, armed themselves with spears and harpoons, and sailed out to hunt it. However, none of their weapons struck the creature. Looking closer, they realised that it was a gigantic skeleton without any flesh.
Suddenly, the sea filled with strange fish, while unfamiliar birds swarmed across the sky. The skeletal whale turned out to sea and disappeared into the current, taking the strange creatures with it. The terrified villagers recognised it as a Bakekujira, a vengeful ghost whale. Although it was never seen again, other villages in Shimane suffered its curse, experiencing devastating fires and infectious diseases.
Sources
“Bake Kujira.” Yokai.com. https://yokai.com/bakekujira/