Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Omak, Oneki
Category: Ghost
The Myth
Omaku is a mysterious supernatural phenomenon from Tōno, Iwate Prefecture, in which the thoughts and feelings of the living and the dead become entangled and wander between places. It is also known as Oneki. Rather than appearing as a clearly defined creature, Omaku manifests through strange apparitions in which a person’s presence seems to travel beyond the limits of their physical body.
One story tells of Jintarō, a soldier from Tsuchibuchi Village who served in the Imperial Guard Regiment. One summer morning, he attempted his usual handstand on a wooden block when he suddenly fell headfirst and lost consciousness. Later, he recalled that he had somehow left the barracks and flown through the air toward his distant hometown, several feet above the ground. There, he saw his wife and sister-in-law washing their feet in a stream, entered his family home, and sat beside his mother near the hearth. Dissatisfied with his visit, he then flew back to Tokyo and returned to his room in the barracks.
At that very moment, Jintarō awoke from his unconsciousness, surrounded by a military doctor, nurses, and fellow soldiers. He initially wondered whether the journey had been a prank, but a letter from his family confirmed the strange experience. His wife and sister-in-law had indeed seen him dressed in white rush into the house, sit beside his mother, and suddenly vanish. The incident was said to have occurred around the time of the Russo-Japanese War.
Another account describes a beautiful girl of sixteen or seventeen who appeared at a temple construction site while suffering from typhoid fever. Although she was too ill to be there, she entered through the back door while dozens of carpenters were taking their lunch break. The master carpenter, Keijirō, recognized her as the daughter of his neighbor and realized that she was close to death. She died the following day. The story presents Omaku as a mysterious encounter involving the presence of someone whose body and spirit may no longer be together.
Sources
“おまく (Omaku).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010654387.html