Janjanbi

Outline

The name janjanbi derives from the 'janjan' sound the fires are said to make. In Nara, legends and alternate names vary by area. In Byakugō-ji town, Nara city, two balls of fire appear in the graveyard of Byakugō-ji and Daian-ji. They meet and intertwine over the Fūfu River before returning to their graves.

When seen, the fire approaches a person and will follow them even if they flee into a pond. These fires are said to be a man and a woman who committed double suicide and were buried in separate temples, becoming balls of fire that reunite. In Yamatokōriyama, two hitodama appear annually on June 7th on the bridge above the Saho River, also representing the spirits of a man and a woman. A custom once existed on that date for twenty men and women from surrounding villages to dance on the bridge to console the spirits.

In Fujichō, Tenri, a ball of fire appears from castle ruins and flies westward; those who encounter it must hide under a bridge until it passes. This is also called Zannenbi (残念火, 'disappointment fire'). In Yanagimotochō and Tainoshōchō, Tenri, and Kashihara, on a summer night when rain is near, turning toward Tōichi castle and saying 'hoi hoi' causes the fire to fly over, make a 'jan jan' sound, and disappear; this is called hoihoibi (ホイホイ火). It is considered the onryō of military commander Tōtada Tōichi, slain by Matsunaga Danjō in the Azuchi–Momoyama period.

Those who see it are said to suffer fever for three days and nights from the curse. When Tōtada was killed, his soldiers cried 'zannen, zannen' (disappointment), heard as 'jan jan'. In Tainoshōchō, Tenri, a jizō with a separated head called the 'kubikiri jizō' (decapitated jizō) exists; a soldier attacked by janjanbi once swung his sword and accidentally cut off the jizō's head, and that soldier later died completely burning.