Ikiryo (Japan)

Ikiryo are the spirits of living people, in contrast to shiryo, which are the spirits of the dead. However, they are just as dangerous—sometimes even more so. In most cases, a person is unaware of the existence of their ikiryo, except when they deliberately send it forth with the help of black magic to possess or torment an enemy.

The birth of an ikiryo is often linked to its owner’s intense emotions toward another person. For instance, if someone harbors such intense hatred that they spend nearly all their waking hours fantasizing about vengeance, they may unintentionally project an ikiryo, which then haunts its target.