Furaribi ふらり火

Furaribi (ふらり火), translates as the “Aimless Fire” or “Wandering Flame,” a haunting spirit that drifts without purpose through the night sky.

Meaning and Origin

The name comes from furari (ふらり), an onomatopoeic word describing something wandering aimlessly or drifting with the wind, and hi (火 - fire).

Furaribi belong to the category of Hi-no-tama (ghostly fireballs). They are believed to be the spirits of those who died in isolation or without proper funerary rites. Because no one performed the necessary ceremonies to guide them to the afterlife, these souls remain trapped in the mortal world, transforming into flickering flames that mimic the migration of birds.

Characteristics

A Furaribi is often depicted not just as a simple flame, but as a small, bird-like creature wreathed in fire. It has a face that sometimes resembles a dog or a small demon, and it is usually seen hovering near rivers or dark mountain passes. Unlike malevolent demons, the Furaribi is generally passive—it doesn’t attack, but its presence is a chilling reminder of the forgotten dead.

Legends

One specific and dark legend from Toyama Prefecture (the Jinzū River) links the Furaribi to a tragic act of jealousy. It is said that the warlord Sassa Narimasa murdered his concubine, Sayuri, and her entire family based on false rumors. Their unappeased souls were said to have transformed into a flock of Furaribi that haunted the riverbanks for generations.

Locals claimed that if you called out “Sayuri, Sayuri!” on a rainy night, the flames would swarm toward the voice, flickering with the vengeful energy of the woman who was betrayed and killed without mercy.