Osakabehime is a figure in Japanese folklore. She is described as a yōkai inhabiting Himeji Castle. A Kabuki play based on her story is considered one of the Shin-Kabuki Jūhachiban. Osakabehime lives in the castle tower of Himeji Castle, and meets the castle lord only once a year to tell him the fate of the castle. According to Matsuura Shizuyama’s essay Kasshi Yawa, the reason why Osakabehime lives in hiding like this is because she hates people. The true identity of Osakabehime is generally considered to be an old kitsune, or an unrighteous child born by Princess Inoe to his son Osabe-shinno. There are also theories such as the claim she is the spirit of the courtesan that Emperor Fushimi loved or Osakabe Okami, the god of Mt Hime, where Himeji Castle is located. In Toriyama Sekien’s Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki, the yōkai is called “Osakabe” and is depicted as an old princess with a bat.
Description Osakabehime is a figure in Japanese folklore. She is described as a yōkai inhabiting Himeji Castle. A Kabuki play based on her story is considered one of the Shin-Kabuki Jūhachiban. Osakabehime lives in the castle tower of Himeji Castle, and meets the castle lord only once a year to tell him the fate of the castle. According to Matsuura Shizuyama’s essay Kasshi Yawa, the reason why Osakabehime lives in hiding like this is because she hates people. The true identity of Osakabehime is generally considered to be an old kitsune, or an unrighteous child born by Princess Inoe to his son Osabe-shinno. There are also theories such as the claim she is the spirit of the courtesan that Emperor Fushimi loved or Osakabe Okami, the god of Mt Hime, where Himeji Castle is located. In Toriyama Sekien’s Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki, the yōkai is called “Osakabe” and is depicted as an old princess with a bat.
