Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: The One Fire of Yamaguchi
Category: Flame
The Myth
Yamaguchi no Hitobi, meaning the One Fire of Yamaguchi, is a mysterious supernatural flame associated with Yamaguchi Village in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture. It is counted among the seven mysteries of the Ueda region and is linked to the tragic fate of a beautiful young woman whose nightly journeys through the mountains ended in her death. The fire is said to represent her lingering feelings, appearing especially brightly on rainy nights.
Long ago, a beautiful girl from Yamaguchi fell in love with a man from Matsushiro. Every night, regardless of rain or wind, she crossed the dangerous mountains of Taroyama, Kyodaiyama, and Saijoyama to visit him. She always brought him warm rice cakes in both hands. Her lover gradually grew suspicious, wondering how such a frail woman could cross the treacherous mountain paths every night and how she could always provide warm mochi. When he questioned her, she explained that her desire to see him made the journey seem unfrightening and that the rice cakes were made from glutinous rice she had taken when leaving home. His doubts remained, however, and he eventually decided to kill her, fearing that their relationship would bring her ruin. He hid beside a mountain cliff and, when she came running toward him like a whirlwind, pushed her into a deep valley. After her death, crimson azaleas were said to bloom abundantly across the mountains, and mysterious fireballs began to appear.
Another version tells that the young men of the village killed the girl. Having heard rumours of a beautiful woman who travelled through Matsushiro, crossed Jizo Pass, passed Magario, and went over Taroyama Kongoji Pass, they waited for her in the mountains one night. When she came running toward them at extraordinary speed, they attempted to seize her. She fought back with a razor she carried for protection, but the young men overwhelmed her, beat her, and threw her into the valley. The One Fire is said to be the manifestation of the feelings of this murdered woman, whose tragic fate continues to haunt the mountains as a mysterious light.
Sources
“Osabi.” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1077434909.html