The Legend of Naki-baba: Japan’s Crying Hag
Japanese folklore is a rich tapestry woven with spirits, demons, and ghosts known collectively as Yokai. While some of these creatures are malevolent monsters intent on harm, and others are mischievous tricksters, a distinct category embodies human emotion in its rawest forms. Among these sorrowful spirits stands the Naki-baba (泣き婆), or the “Crying Hag.”
For travelers and culture enthusiasts exploring the mystical side of Japan, the Naki-baba offers a fascinating glimpse into how ancient funeral customs and the universal experience of grief have been immortalized in mythology. Unlike the terrifying Oni or the elusive Kappa, the Naki-baba represents a psychological phenomenon manifested as a supernatural entity.
The Origins: From Professional Mourning to Myth
To understand the Naki-baba, one must first look at the history of Japanese funeral rites. In ancient Japan, similar to many other cultures around the world, there existed a tradition of hiring professional mourners, known as naki-on’na or nakime. These women were paid to wail loudly at funerals, guiding the spirit of the deceased and encouraging the attendees to release their own grief.
The Naki-baba is widely considered a folkloric corruption or a supernatural exaggeration of this role. As the tradition of professional mourners began to fade or became viewed with superstition, the image of a woman wailing uncontrollably transformed into a Yokai.
Visually, the Naki-baba was cemented in the cultural consciousness by the Edo-period artist Toriyama Sekien. In his famous encyclopedia of monsters, Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki (The Illustrated One Hundred Demons from the Present and the Past), he depicts her as a disheveled elderly woman, her face buried in her hands or a cloth, radiating an aura of utter despair.
The Legend of the Crying Hag
According to folklore, the Naki-baba is not necessarily a violent spirit, but her presence is deeply unsettling and often considered a bad omen. She typically appears during times of mourning or in households where a tragedy has occurred.
The Contagion of Grief
The primary power of the Naki-baba is the contagion of sorrow. Legend says that she infiltrates funerals or visits homes where someone is sick. Once she begins to cry, her voice is said to be so mournful and piercing that it forces everyone within earshot to weep uncontrollably.
In some variations of the myth, her presence is more parasitic. She feeds off the sadness of others, appearing when a family is grieving to amplify their pain for her own sustenance. While she does not physically attack humans, the emotional exhaustion caused by her influence can leave victims drained and listless for days after the encounter. In rarer, darker interpretations, her crying is a harbinger of death, signaling that a passing is imminent.
Naki-baba in Modern Culture
While she may not be as globally famous as Godzilla or the Kitsune, the Naki-baba maintains a presence in modern Japanese pop culture, largely thanks to the resurgence of Yokai interest in the late 20th century.
The most notable modern depiction is found in the works of Shigeru Mizuki, the legendary manga artist and historian who single-handedly revived Yokai culture with GeGeGe no Kitaro. In Mizuki’s universe, the Naki-baba is often depicted as an antagonist who uses her sonic crying attacks to incapacitate Kitaro and his friends, utilizing the comical yet dangerous aspect of her lore.
You can also find references to similar “crying spirits” in J-Horror (Japanese Horror) cinema and video games, where the auditory element of weeping is used to build tension and fear, a trope that arguably traces its roots back to the Naki-baba legend.
Traveler’s Tips: Experiencing Yokai Culture
If you are a traveler fascinated by the Naki-baba and other supernatural entities, there are specific destinations in Japan where you can immerse yourself in this world:
1. Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture
This is the hometown of Shigeru Mizuki and the ultimate pilgrimage site for Yokai lovers.
- Mizuki Shigeru Road: A street lined with over 170 bronze statues of Yokai, including the Naki-baba. It is a fantastic photo opportunity and a way to see how these creatures are visualized.
- Mizuki Shigeru Museum: Offers deep insights into the history of these spirits and the artist who preserved them.
2. Kyoto: Yokai Street (Ichijo-dori)
Kyoto is the ancient capital and the heart of Japanese folklore. Ichijo-dori creates a “Hyakki Yagyo” (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) atmosphere. The local shops decorate their storefronts with handmade Yokai monsters, and they hold flea markets and parades celebrating these legends.
3. Yurei-ga Galleries (Tokyo)
During the summer months (the traditional season for ghost stories in Japan), various museums and galleries in Tokyo often display Yurei-ga (ghost paintings). Look for exhibitions featuring works by Toriyama Sekien or Hokusai to potentially spot a classical depiction of the Crying Hag.
Sources & Further Reading
For those wishing to delve deeper into the history of Japanese death rituals and the supernatural, the following texts are essential:
- Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki by Toriyama Sekien: The primary visual source for many Yokai, including Naki-baba.
- The Kojiki and Nihon Shoki: While these ancient chronicles focus on gods and the creation of Japan, they provide the necessary context regarding early funerary rites and the role of the Nakime (weeping women).
- Yokai Attack! The Japanese Monster Survival Guide by Hiroko Yoda and Matt Alt: An accessible, English-language guide that details various spirits.
The Naki-baba serves as a poignant reminder that in Japanese folklore, even the act of crying has a life of its own. When you visit Japan, listen closely to the wind on a quiet night—hopefully, it is just the wind, and not the sorrowful wail of the Crying Hag.