Ame-onna 雨女

Ame-onna (雨女), or the “Rain Woman,” is a haunting and tragic figure in Japanese folklore, known for summoning storms and her melancholic connection to motherhood.

Meaning and Origin

The name Ame-onna translates literally to “Rain Woman,” from ame (雨 - rain) and onna (女 - woman).

Her origins trace back to ancient Chinese mythology, specifically the legend of a goddess of Mount Wu who appeared as a cloud in the morning and rain in the evening. As this story filtered into Japanese folklore, the figure transformed from a divine goddess into a more sinister or tragic yokai. Folk belief also suggests that grieving mothers whose children were lost or killed on rainy days can transform into Ame-onna through their pure, agonizing sorrow.

Characteristics

The Ame-onna is depicted as a haggard, middle-aged woman perpetually soaked to the bone, standing in the rain. She is often seen licking the rainwater off her hands or carrying a large, dark sack.

Wherever she goes, heavy rain and thick mist follow, making her a harbinger of bad weather. While she is related to minor rain deities, she lacks their benevolence, instead embodying the damp, cold misery of a never-ending storm.

Legends

One of the most persistent and frightening legends of the Ame-onna is her tendency to kidnap children. It is said that she wanders the streets on rainy nights, listening for the sound of a crying baby. Driven by the loss of her own child, she will “rescue” the infant by spiriting them away into the darkness of the rain, never to be seen again.

In modern Japan, the term “ame-onna” (or “ame-otoko” for men) has survived as a slang term for a person who is perceived as “rain-bringing”—someone for whom it unexpectedly rains whenever they have an important outdoor event or trip.