Hitodama

Lore & Background

Hitodama are frequently confused with onibi and kitsunebi, but since hitodama are generally considered to be the 'appearance of human souls that have left the body and fly through the air,' they are strictly speaking a different general idea from these other atmospheric ghost lights. Concerning their shape and nature, there are common features throughout Japan, but some differences can also be seen depending on the area. They generally fly crawling along at an elevation that is not very high, have a color that is blue-white, orange, or red, and typically have a tail, which can be either short or long. There are also a few rare reports of them being seen during the daytime.

In Okinawa Prefecture, hitodama are called tamagai. In Nakijin, they are said to appear before a child is born, whereas in other areas they are said to be mysterious flames that drive humans to their deaths. In Kawakami, Inba District, Chiba Prefecture (now Yachimata), hitodama are called tamase. They are said to leave the body 2 or 3 days after a human dies and go toward temples or the homes of people with whom the deceased had a deep relationship. They are said to make a loud sound in storm shutters and gardens, but this sound can allegedly only be heard by those who had a close connection to the spirit.

Reader's Guide

Hitodama hold significance in Japanese folklore as manifestations of human souls separated from the body after death. Their enduring presence in literature, such as the Man'yōshū, and in modern sightings and photographs, underscores their cultural persistence. Various scientific and natural explanations have been proposed for the phenomenon, including the decomposition of corpses generating phosphine, misidentification of bioluminescent organisms like fireflies, meteors, animals with luminous moss, combustible gases from swamps, ball lightning, or optical illusions. Physicist Torahiko Terada noted in a 1933 essay that different phenomena likely contribute to the legend, concluding that physical phenomena combined with optical illusions likely explain many sightings. There have also been 'artificial hitodama' created using combustible gases, such as a 1976 experiment using methane gas by Meiji University professor Masao Yamana. In the 1980s, Yoshihiko Ootsuki posited the theory that they are 'plasma generated in the air.' However, there remain some hitodama reports that cannot be fully explained by these theories, and it is thought that the phenomenon arises from a variety of different causes. This ambiguity preserves hitodama as a subject of both folkloric and scientific interest.

Did You Know?

• Hitodama are also called onibi (demon fires) or hikarimono (glowing things).
• In Okinawa Prefecture, hitodama are called tamagai and in Nakijin are said to appear before a child is born.
• In Kawakami, Chiba Prefecture, hitodama are called tamase and are said to leave the body 2 or 3 days after death.
• A 1976 experiment by Meiji University professor Masao Yamana created artificial hitodama using methane gas.