Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: –
Category: Flame
The Myth
Nojukubi is a mysterious supernatural fire that appears along country roads, highways, and in the mountains of Japan. It manifests in places where no people are present, burning briefly before suddenly going out, only to appear again somewhere nearby. Unlike ordinary fires, it seems to arise without any visible cause, illuminating lonely and deserted places before vanishing into the darkness.
The Nojukubi is distinguished from foxfire and other natural-looking mysterious flames. Its appearances are unpredictable, and it is sometimes accompanied by strange sounds, including the noise of people talking excitedly or singing. These unexplained voices, heard alongside the flickering flames, give the phenomenon an eerie quality, as though an unseen gathering were taking place in the wilderness.
Sources
“Nojukubi.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010653472.html