Kasha (Japan)

Kasha are corpse-stealing yokai that look like large, bipedal cats enveloped in flames. As shapeshifters, they can also appear as humans or ordinary house cats—an ability that allows them to blend in with people and find out where funerals are taking place.

When it comes to stealing corpses, kasha are anything but discreet. Instead of sneaking around, they descend suddenly on coffins and snatch the deceased. Their arrival is often preceded by ominous weather and strong winds powerful enough to lift a coffin into the sky.

Kasha are said to target only the corpses of wicked individuals who committed heinous crimes in life. For this reason, their appearance at funerals brings great shame to the deceased’s family.