Yanari 家鳴

Yanari (家鳴), the “House Shakers,” are the Japanese equivalent of poltergeists—tiny, invisible Oni that cause the mysterious creaks, groans, and rattles of an old wooden home at night.

Meaning and Origin

The name means Ya (House) and Nari (Sound/Cry). It translates to “The House Creak.”

Its origin is the ancient wooden architecture of Japan. In a culture where houses were made of living materials like cedar and cypress, the sounds of “settling” and “shifting” were constant. Yanari was the folk explanation for these sounds. The first visual depiction of these spirits was by Toriyama Sekien, who drew them as tiny, mouse-sized demons. They represent the Hidden Stress of a Home—the idea that the very walls of your sanctuary are alive and perhaps a little bit grumpy.

Characteristics

Yanari are invisible to the human eye, but they are described as tiny, blue or red Oni, no bigger than a finger. They carry miniature iron clubs and tiny wooden hammers, which they use to strike the joints and pillars of the house.

Their primary characteristic is Rhythmic Vibration. They don’t just make a noise once; they work in groups to create a “drumming” sound that can make the whole building seem to tremble. Most of the time, they are harmless pranksters, but if a house is truly neglected or has a “heavy” emotional atmosphere, the Yanari can become more violent, knocking dishes off shelves or causing pictures to tilt. They are said to be most active in the hour between 2 AM and 3 AM, the traditional “Ghost Hour” of Japan.

Legends

One famous story from the Edo period tells of a samurai who moved into a cheap, haunted mansion. Every night, the house would shake so violently that his tea would spill and his sword would rattle in its rack.

The samurai, a man of great discipline, waited with his lantern. He didn’t see anything, but he noticed a specific floorboard that was vibrating more than the others. He suddenly rammed his dagger into the gap in the wood. There was a tiny, high-pitched squeak, and the shaking stopped forever. Legend says that the Yanari are actually “cowardly” spirits; if you can pinpoint exactly where they are working and “challenge” them, they will flee to the neighbor’s house. Yanari is a reminder that “unexplained sounds” in the dark are often just small things looking for a bit of attention.