Gashadokuro (Japan)

Gashadokuro are giant skeletal yokai towering at a height of about 90 feet tall. They are made of the collected bones of people who died during famine or wars. As such, they are commonly found on battlegrounds, in cemeteries and mass graves.

In ancient Japan, events such as drought, pest infestations and plant diseases could all have caused the crops to perish. Similarly, the destruction of the food supply could also result from wars waged by clashing nobles and royalty. Ordinary citizens and soldiers who lost their lives in all these natural and man-made disasters are said to become gashadokuro—vengeful ghosts born from the anger and despair of those who perished while waiting for help that never came. Their intense emotional energies collectively manifest as a raging giant skeleton powered by the hatred and resentment of the dead.   

Learn more about Gashadokuro in Ghosts, Spirits and Paranormal Entities from Asian Folklore and Mythology (Book 1).