Classification: Ethereal Entities

Temporal Range: 17th Century

Geographic Range: The area where they died or feel most attached to

Diet: None

While many ghost stories portray people who have died an untimely death, in Japan there is a whole subcategory for people who have died in a particularly gruesome fashion, mainly murder and suicide. These victims go on to become Yurei. These spirits are banned from entering the afterlife and are stuck on Earth until a specific ritual is performed to put them at rest. Often, if this involved a murder, it might involve the Yurei’s relatives seeking revenge for them or seeing that justice is served.

Yurei are instantly recognizable for several reasons. The first is that they are always dressed entirely in white and usually have dark, disheveled hair. They are often seen with their hands hanging limp at the wrists and a distinct lack of feet. They move by simply floating across the floor in an eerie fashion. To add to this disturbing sight, they are also accompanied by Hitodama, which are similar to will o’ the wisps. These are floating balls of colored flame (usually blue, purple, or sometimes green).

There is no need to fear being followed by a Yurei as they are doomed to haunt a single location. This means that as long as you know where it lingers, you can do your very best to avoid that place if you wish. Although, we’re sure you’re much braver than that!