Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: 後神, うしろがみ, Behind Spirit
Category: Ghost
The Myth
Ushirogami, whose name translates as “Behind Spirit,” is a Japanese supernatural being associated with cowardice and fear. It resembles a ghost with long black hair and a single large eyeball on the top of its head. Rather than having feet, it possesses a long, twisting body that allows it to leap high into the air. Ushirogami is considered a kind of okubyōgami, a spirit that causes cowardice or specifically preys upon those who are already timid.
The Ushirogami’s favorite trick is to sneak up behind unsuspecting people and frighten them. It tugs at the hair on the backs of their necks, then vanishes as soon as they turn around to discover who touched them. Sometimes it presses icy hands against their necks or breathes hot air onto them. The spirit particularly enjoys targeting cowardly young women walking alone at night. It may suddenly untie their hair, let it fall loose, or run its hands through it until it becomes tangled. It can also summon powerful gusts of wind to blow umbrellas away, leaving its victims startled and unsettled.
The Ushirogami’s name contains a wordplay that connects its supernatural behavior with human reluctance. The Japanese word ushiro means “behind,” while kami means “spirit” in this context. However, ushirogami also refers to the hair at the back of the neck. The expression ushirogami wo hikikaeru, meaning to have the hair at the back of the neck pulled, describes the painful reluctance of someone who must do something they desperately wish to avoid. As they search for an excuse to escape, they may look back as though something were pulling them away. By tugging at this hair, the Ushirogami gives physical form to the feeling of cowardice and hesitation. It can therefore be understood both as an external spirit that instills fear and as a personification of a person’s own reluctance to face something they dread.
Sources
“Ushirogami.” Yokai.com. https://yokai.com/ushirogami/