The Cry of Uwan: Japan’s Spooky Shouting Spirit
Imagine walking past a derelict temple in the Japanese countryside at twilight. The wind rustles through overgrown bamboo, and the wooden structure creaks with age. Suddenly, a disembodied, high-pitched voice shrieks directly into your ear: “Uwan!” You spin around, heart pounding, but there is no one there. According to Japanese folklore, you have just encountered the Uwan.
While Japan is famous for its terrifying vengeful spirits (Onryo) and water goblins (Kappa), the Uwan represents a unique class of supernatural entity: the auditory trickster. In this deep dive into Japanese folklore, we explore the origins, legends, and cultural significance of this noisy spirit, and where travelers might find the atmosphere that gave birth to such tales.
Origins: A Monster Born of Sound
The Uwan (うわん) traces its visual documentation back to the Edo period, specifically appearing in Toriyama Sekien’s famous 1776 compendium, The Illustrated Night Parade of a Hundred Demons (Gazu Hyakki Yagyo). However, the oral traditions likely predate these illustrations.
Etymologically, the name “Uwan” is distinct because it has no inherent meaning in the Japanese language outside of the entity itself. It is a pure onomatopoeia—a name derived solely from the sound the spirit makes. Unlike yokai born from human tragedy or natural disasters, the Uwan is a manifestation of the startling sounds one might hear in old, settling buildings or wind-swept ruins.
In Sekien’s illustration, the Uwan is depicted as a grotesque, formless creature with sharp teeth and clawed hands, emerging from behind a crumbling plaster wall. Despite this terrifying artistic rendering, folklore often treats the Uwan as a formless entity—a spirit consisting entirely of sound and shadow.
The Legend: The Echo of the Abandoned
The primary habitat of the Uwan is said to be old, uninhabited temples, shrines, and abandoned homes. The legend dictates that the spirit lies in wait for unsuspecting travelers to pass by its lair. When a person approaches, the spirit screams “Uwan!” at a volume capable of startling the soul out of the body.
While generally considered a mischievous prankster rather than a lethal predator, there is a darker side to specific regional variations of the tale, particularly in Aomori Prefecture. In these northern legends, the encounter is a test of reflexes.
The Rule of the Echo
The folklore suggests a specific countermeasure: if the Uwan shouts at you, you must shout “Uwan!” back immediately. If the traveler fails to repeat the cry, legends say they may suffer from a sudden illness, bad luck, or in some grim tellings, be spirited away. This “call and response” mechanic highlights a common theme in Japanese mythology where acknowledging a spirit neutralizes its power.
Modern Culture: From Haikyo to Anime
In contemporary Japan, the Uwan has transitioned from a source of rural fear to a beloved character in pop culture. The concept of a monster that only exists to startle people fits perfectly into the kawaii (cute) yet spooky aesthetic of modern character design.
- Anime and Manga: The Uwan frequently appears in the GeGeGe no Kitaro franchise, the seminal series that popularized yokai for modern audiences. Here, it is often depicted as a more comical, less threatening nuisance.
- Video Games: Fans of the Yokai Watch series or Shin Megami Tensei may recognize the Uwan or creatures inspired by it. Its sound-based nature makes it a popular enemy type in RPGs.
- Haikyo Culture: The legend of the Uwan is kept alive by the modern hobby of Haikyo (urban exploration). Enthusiasts who explore abandoned love hotels, theme parks, and temples often joke about the Uwan when they hear unexplained noises in the dark.
Traveler’s Tips: Experiencing the Atmosphere
While you cannot book a tour to see a specific Uwan (as they are invisible), you can visit places that evoke the atmosphere of this legend. The Uwan thrives on the aesthetic of wabi-sabi—the appreciation of the imperfect and the decaying.
1. The Temples of Kyoto at Dusk
Visit the outskirts of Kyoto, such as the Ohara area, near twilight. The older, wooden structures and the surrounding forests provide the perfect acoustic environment to understand why people believed in spirits that lived in the echoes.
2. Aomori Prefecture
For the die-hard folklore enthusiast, a trip to Aomori offers a chance to explore the region where the “call and response” legend is strongest. Visit local history museums to learn about northern yokai, which tend to be wilder than their city counterparts.
3. Respect the Silence
If you find yourself near an abandoned shrine or an old building, remember to be respectful. While you might be tempted to shout “Uwan!” into the darkness, local etiquette dictates quiet reverence. However, if you hear a shout from the shadows… maybe it’s best to shout back, just in case.
Sources & Further Reading
For those interested in delving deeper into the world of Japanese spirits, the following texts and resources are essential:
- Gazu Hyakki Yagyo (The Illustrated Night Parade of a Hundred Demons) by Toriyama Sekien (1776) – The definitive visual source for the Uwan.
- The Legends of Tono (Tono Monogatari) by Yanagita Kunio – While focusing on Kappa and Zashiki-warashi, this text is crucial for understanding the rural landscape where yokai like Uwan reside.
- Yokai Attack!: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide by Hiroko Yoda and Matt Alt – A modern, accessible guide to these creatures.