Chōchin-obake 提灯お化け

Chōchin-obake (提灯お化け), the “Lantern Ghost,” is a classic figure of Japanese folklore—a glowing, leering spirit that turns the warmth of a welcome lamp into a startling nocturnal prank.

Meaning and Origin

The name means Chōchin (Traditional collapsible paper lantern) and Obake (Ghost or transformed thing).

Its origin is the Edo period, specifically the 18th-century Yokai compendiums like Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro. Like the umbrella-boy, Chōchin-obake is a Tsukumogami born from a paper lantern that has reached a great age (usually 100 years). It is a transformation of a simple tool used to light the dark paths of ancient Japan. It represents the Uncanny Nature of Light—the idea that the very thing we use to see the truth can also be used to deceive and frighten us.

Characteristics

A Chōchin-obake is a lantern that has split along its middle rib to form a wide, gaping mouth. From this mouth, a long, blood-red tongue sticks out. It has one or two bulging eyes on its upper half, and it often has long, thin arms and legs that allow it to crawl along the walls or hop through the air.

Its primary characteristic is its Mischievous Glow. It does not attack with claws or teeth; instead, it uses its light to confuse travelers. It can project its flame to look like a distant person with a torch, leading travelers into marshes or overgrown forests. Once they are lost, the lantern will suddenly manifest its face, let out a cackling laugh, and blow out its own flame, leaving the victim in total, terrifying darkness.

Legends

One famous story from Yamagata Prefecture tells of a village that was haunted by a “Laughing Lamp.” Every night at an old shrine, the lanterns would light themselves and begin to chatter and laugh in high-pitched voices.

A brave samurai decided to confront the spirits. He waited in the dark until one of the lanterns began to grow a tongue and eyes. The samurai didn’t draw his sword; instead, he blew a cloud of tobacco smoke directly into the lantern’s mouth. The Chōchin-obake began to cough and sputter, eventually folding itself back into a regular lantern and falling to the ground. This legend highlights a common theme in Japanese folklore: that many Yokai are not inherently evil, but are simply “bored” spirits that can be defeated with a bit of human wit and a steady hand.