Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: ママオッカ
Category: Ghost
The Myth
Mamaokka is a terrifying supernatural being said to appear in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. According to local belief, an empty winnowing machine could summon this frightening creature when someone turned its mechanism without any grain inside. Mamaokka was described as a terrifying presence or an ogre that emerged in response to this unusual act.
The winnowing machine, known as a tōmi, was a box-shaped agricultural tool used to separate grain from husks and pieces of straw. Turning its internal wheel created a current of air that blew away the lighter waste while the heavier grains fell through a funnel. The belief that operating an empty machine could summon Mamaokka transformed an ordinary farming tool into a source of supernatural fear.
Sources
“ママオッカ (Mamaokka).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010654452.html