Nobusuma

What it is

The nobusuma is a type of yōkai, a supernatural monster in Japanese folklore. Its name translates to "field bedding." Some accounts describe it as a giant flying squirrel, while others identify it as a transmuted bat. The creature is known for gliding through the sky and latching onto people. It is said to cover a victim's eyes and mouth, potentially to suck blood. Other sources claim it attacks animals or consumes fruits and tree nuts. In some legends, it exhibits fire-eating behavior after biting a torch.

Where it comes from

The lore is localized to the Edo region, now Tokyo. Early illustrations by Toriyama Sekien in 1779 depicted it as a flying squirrel with fleshy wings. Later works, such as the Ehon Hyaku Monogatari published in 1841, linked it to bats. One theory suggests the creature begins as a bat, ages into a nobusuma, and eventually becomes a vampire-like entity called yamachichi. This final form is said to suck the breath from sleepers, causing death if unseen.

How it is done

The creature is said to fly onto travelers on mountain paths. It uses its forepaws to blindfold and gag the victim. Once the person is restrained, the nobusuma feeds on their blood. Another variation involves the creature extinguishing a traveler's torch by biting it, then breathing the smoke or flame. If a yamachichi attacks a sleeper, the act causes death unless another human witnesses it, which supposedly lengthens the victim's life.

Tools and materials

The primary tool of the nobusuma is its body. It possesses fleshy wings that resemble those of a bat when folded. It has fur and claws used to latch onto prey. In artistic depictions, it is shown interacting with torches and covering human faces. The creature is also associated with hollow trees where it rests during the day.

What it is for

People feared the nobusuma as a threat to travelers and livestock. It was believed to cause illness or death through blood-sucking or breath-stealing. The legend served to explain unexplained ailments or attacks on cats and humans in the Edo period. The fear of the creature influenced how people viewed nocturnal animals like flying squirrels and bats.

Who does it

Scholars and artists documented the nobusuma. Toriyama Sekien illustrated it in his 1779 work Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki. Utagawa Kuniyoshi depicted a swordsman fighting a bat-like version in the 1820s. Researchers like Katsumi Tada and Hiroshi Aramata have analyzed the creature's origins, linking it to real animals like the musasabi and momonga.

Peoples and places

The nobusuma is part of Japanese folklore, specifically from the Edo period. Different regions had varying names for similar creatures. In the Kantō region, it was called momoka, while western provinces used the term itaojiki. The Wakan Sansai Zue encyclopedia noted these regional differences. The legend may have arisen from confusion between different species of flying squirrels and tanuki.

What people believe

The belief system places the nobusuma within the category of yōkai. It is seen as a transformation of ordinary animals due to age or spiritual change. The connection to the yamachichi highlights a belief in creatures that steal life force. The idea that witnessing an attack can reverse its effect reflects folk beliefs about spirits and omens.

When it is done

The creature is active at night. Legends mention foggy and windy nights as times when it transforms or appears. Travelers were most vulnerable on mountain paths after dark. The creature rests in hollow trees during the day, emerging only when darkness falls.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Researchers view the nobusuma as a mythological interpretation of natural animal behavior. Flying squirrels may have been mistaken for monsters when they glided near torches or latched onto people blinded by light. The Wakan Sansai Zue traced the legend to Chinese texts about flying squirrels. Scholars note that the creature's attributes evolved over time, blending features of bats, squirrels, and vampires.

Compare and confuse

The nobusuma is related to other yōkai like the momonjī and yamachichi. It shares traits with the mami, a beast sometimes identified as a tanuki or flying squirrel. The tobikura is another name for a similar creature that covers human faces. These entities often overlap in descriptions, reflecting a fluid folklore tradition.

Questions people ask about Nobusuma

Good reading and sources

• Nobusuma on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data