Ghost Stories

Halloween – A time for things to creep and groan and go “bump” in the night; a time for witches and goblins, and a time for thousands of weirdly costumed little people to go from house to house yelling, “Trick or treat!”   It’s also a time for sitting around the kitchen table telling ghost stories.   And, since we’re on Okinawa, it’s only sutable to relate a few from this locale – some old, some fairly recent.

                                                                Haunted Houses

Okinawa, no different from any other country with respect to haunted houses, has more than its rightful share.

Many years ago a house burned down while the unfortunate occupant was in – of all places – the shower.   Since that time, many a person who walked by the ruins of that house at night told of hearing the shower running; as clearly as if a shower were actually there.   The burned-out house stood untouched for many years until a shaman was finally brought in by the owners to exorcise the ghost.   Today a new structure stands in its place – as yet unoccupied.

There’s yet another house in the same general area, flanked on three sides by tombs.   Even at the lowest possible rent, this house also remains unoccupied.   Could it be that it too is haunted?

Imps and Possessions

Found in folklore all over the world are imps, “little men,” and a variety of spirits – some good, others bad.   Okinawa folklore is no exception.   One entity is of particular interest.

Kijimuna (key jee moo nah) are tiny, long-nosed, red imps who live in the banyan trees.   They are full of mischief and thrive on playing practical jokes, some of which are downright nasty.   For instance, they like to jump out of the trees at night onto the backs of   passersby.   They then squeeze the breath out of their victims.   They are such a nuisance that some Okinawans, even today, actually drive spikes into the trunks of the banyan trees to keep the little red devils away....