Abura-sumashi

Abura-sumashi (油 (あぶら)すまし, "Oil Presser") is a creature from the folklore of Amakusa in Kumamoto prefecture.

A depiction of the abura-sumashi.

Mythology

This spirit, which surprises people on the Kusazumigoe mountain pass, is thought to be the ghost of a human who stole oil.

In the days before electricity, oil was a very valuable commodity, necessary for lighting and heating a house. As such, the theft of oil, particularly from temples and shrines, could lead to punishment via reincarnation as a yōkai.

In modern media the abura-sumashi is often depicted as, "a squat creature with a straw-coat covered body and a potato-like or stony head," an appearance inspired by the artwork of Shigeru Mizuki.

References
  • "Aburasumashi". The Obakemono Project. Archived from the original on 6 February 2006. Retrieved February 21, 2006.
  • "Aburasumashi". Kaii-Yōkai Denshō Database. Retrieved October 10, 2006.
  • "Sumoto-town (Home of Aburasumashi-don)". asahi.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
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