Chōchinbi is a type of onibi, told in legends in each area of Japan. It is said to appear in footpaths between rice fields, floating about one meter above the ground, disappearing when humans get close to it. In the Tokushima Prefecture in Shikoku, witnesses are said to have observed several tens of paper lantern fires appearing at once and lining up like light bulbs. Its name comes from how it is presumed to be some kind of monster lighting up paper lanterns; it is also said to be the work of kitsune. In Matsudzuka, Katsuraginoshimo District, Yamato Province (now Kashihara, Nara Prefecture), these mysterious fires are called koemonbi (小右衛門火). Mainly on rainy evenings, on the river bank, a mysterious fire about as big as a paper lantern would appear, and would float three shaku (about 90 centimeters) above ground, and would fly around about 4 kilometers to and from the graveyard.
Alias Chōchinbi (提灯火)
Real Names/Alt Names Alt: Tanukibi (狸火, “tanuki fire”), Koemonbi (小右衛門火)
Description Chōchinbi is a type of onibi, told in legends in each area of Japan. It is said to appear in footpaths between rice fields, floating about one meter above the ground, disappearing when humans get close to it. In the Tokushima Prefecture in Shikoku, witnesses are said to have observed several tens of paper lantern fires appearing at once and lining up like light bulbs. Its name comes from how it is presumed to be some kind of monster lighting up paper lanterns; it is also said to be the work of kitsune. In Matsudzuka, Katsuraginoshimo District, Yamato Province (now Kashihara, Nara Prefecture), these mysterious fires are called koemonbi (小右衛門火). Mainly on rainy evenings, on the river bank, a mysterious fire about as big as a paper lantern would appear, and would float three shaku (about 90 centimeters) above ground, and would fly around about 4 kilometers to and from the graveyard.
