These ghosts cause fatal traffic accidents and target both motorists and pedestrians. They would manifest suddenly on the road, forcing drivers to swerve their vehicles abruptly, resulting in car crashes. Sometimes, these apparitions run after vehicles at an inhumanly fast speed, often assuming hair-raising forms that compel drivers to speed up, ultimately leading to fatal accidents. With pedestrians, these ghosts are known to physically restrain individuals on roads or railw

Abura akago are yokai, known as oil-licking babies. They enter people’s homes in the form of a flying fireball, and once inside, change into a baby appearance and lick the oil from paper lanterns. When they are satisfied, they shapeshift back to the flying fireball, and leave for the next house to repeat the same activity.

Kyet are mischievous shape-shifting ghosts that enjoy fooling unsuspecting people. While various types of ghosts may also engage in such antics, kyet are especially good at it with their tendency to orchestrate elaborate pranks in groups. A typical ghost story involving kyet begins with travelers arriving at an unfamiliar place during the late hours of the night. Often, the setting is a large village, bustling with activity even after nightfall. The friendly villagers would i

Kasa-obake belong to a category of yokai called “tsukumogami” which are yokai that originate from ordinary household objects. After existing for at least 100 years, these mundane objects sprung up to live upon acquiring souls, turning into various types of yokai. Kasa-obake, also known as karakasa kozō, used to be old umbrellas. Kasa-obake are more mischievous than dangerous. They enjoy scaring people by creeping up from behind and licking them with their enormous, wet tongue

The last folklore in the flying-head series is about “Krasue” from Thailand. Although Thailand is prominently associated with this folklore, similar entities with comparable physical features and behaviors are also found in the lore of several Southeast Asian countries. There is no available information regarding which country was the first to give birth to the myth of Krause. Following a pattern that you may already be familiar with, krasue take on the appearance of ordin

Manananggal-post by Scary Side of Earth on flickr (shared with creative common license) For this week's flying-head entity, the paranormal creatures of the Philippines take the spotlight. Filipino folklore has no shortage of ghouls and creatures known for segmenting their bodies. Among them, manananggal are the most well-known. By day, they pose as women of striking beauty. However, once night falls, their upper torsos detached from their lower bodies at the waist and fli

The flying-head series continue and this week is about “Chee Sa Sone” of Myanmar. The term “chee sa sone” in the local tongue translates quite literally to "feces-eating witch." According to longstanding beliefs, chee sa sone engage in the rather repulsive practice of eating human excrement, either as an essential ritual linked to practicing witchcraft or as a side-effect of their pursuit of forbidden knowledge. Much like their counterparts in other cultures, chee sa sone app

Luo tou shi are flying human head entities from Chinese folklore. They appear as ordinary individuals during the day, but once night falls, they detach their heads and fly by using their ears as wings. Their heads prowl at night in search of bugs, crabs, and other critters to eat. In some texts, luo tou shi are depicted as members of a special tribe from the South known as the “Luo Tou” clan, who possess this peculiar ability to detach their heads and fly. Luo tou shi is ment

Nukekubi of Japanese folklore appear as ordinary individuals by day, but when night falls, their heads detach from their bodies, soaring off in search of prey. They are characterized by their violent and insatiable hunger for blood, often biting humans and animals, injuring them, or fatally attacking them. The origins of nukekubi trace back to Chinese folklore, where a similar entity known as " Luo tou shi " exists. Interestingly, variations of these flying-head entities can

Forest mimics are said to inhabit remote forests and mountains, where they mimic the voices and appearances of travelers to lead their companions astray, causing them to become lost in the wilderness. They can also disguise themselves as animals, luring hunters off course. In rural areas of Myanmar, there are rules and taboos to avoid encounters with these beings, although the rules vary depending on the region. For example, one might be cautioned against wearing certain colo

Dayal Gwishin” in Korean translates to “egg ghost”, named for the ghost’s egg-like, featureless, and smooth face. Despite its seemingly silly name, the dalyal gwishin is dangerous. It is said to stalk individuals camping in remote mountains and forests, following them during the daytime while hiding in the shadows of trees and bushes. This leads to the victims to feel a sense of being watched. Once night falls, the dayal gwishin emerges from its hiding place. Victims often he

Image source: Kappa by SilviaBelli on Deviant Art Kappa are water-dwelling humanoid creatures with turtle-like features, typically depicted as green in color. They possess webbed hands, feet, and shells on their backs. Covered in scales, their bodies are said to emit a fishy smell. The most distinctive body part of a kappa is a dish-like feature on top of their head. It is important that this dish be always filled with water or the kappa will become paralyzed or die. In terms

Like other parts of the world, the Philippines has its own white lady ghost called “Kaperosa”. It is a general term to describe a phantom woman with long black hair, wearing a white gown. Similar to the white-lady legends from other countries, the emergence of the kaperosa is typically associated with tragedy. Women who lost their lives during childbirth, died due to abuse and violence, or those who committed suicides are said to become kaperosa. Unlike her counterparts from

Kantasma is a fabled creature from Filipino folklore that typically targets lone travelers. Initially, it approaches them in the appearance of a tall, dark person. Once the target sets their sights upon the Kantasma , it stretches out its limbs and body to grotesque proportions and opens its mouth unnaturally wide, letting out a piercing shriek. Kantasma doesn’t seem to attack its target, but coming across one would still be a nerve-wracking experience.

Kantanod is a shape-shifting creature that can take the appearance of an ordinary person and mingle with people. However, it's always on the lookout for its prey: pregnant women. It would stalk the woman, gain entry to her house, and hide under her bed. When she sleeps at night, the kantanod, hiding underneath and now in its true appearance of a grotesque monster, breathes in the scent of the fetus inside the woman's womb. This is not a harmless sniffing, as it is how the kan

Kanabhulo is a ghost with the ability to hypnotize travelers, compelling them to go in a loop, making them use the same route repeatedly. While often perceived as an inconvenience, the ghost can sometimes be sinister. According to lore, this ghost lures individuals towards dangerous locations, guiding them to unwittingly walk off cliffs and meet their demise or wander into deep waters and succumb to drowning. Kanabhulo is said to be active during the night, preying upon lone

Kage Onna appears as the shadow of a woman cast on Japanese traditional paper walls, and she is often sighted along secluded rooms and hallways. Although she typically takes the form of a young woman, she can sometimes scare people by appearing as the shadow of a sinister old hag. This yokai does not harm the residents of the house; and all she does is frighten them with her eerie presence. However, the haunting by Kage Onna typically foreshadows a more dangerous situation. H

Jurig Bonge is a malevolent ghost that possesses drivers, diminishing their awareness of the surroundings or causing them to fall asleep while on the road. The ghost is shapeless but is sometimes portrayed as a tall figure holding pillows, which it uses to cover the ears of drivers, making them lose their senses. Individuals attacked by a jurig bonge may not hear the blaring horn of an incoming train at a railroad crossing or see the cars around them, resulting in fatal accid

Appearing as an ordinary tree at first glance, a jubokko preys upon humans that wander too close to it. The tree uses its branches to trap the prey, tearing their flesh to bleed them. It then uses its special tube-like branches to suck the blood. Once the prey is drained, the tree scatters the remains in its vicinity, where they undergo decomposition. Careful individuals may discern the unnatural presence of flies buzzing around the tree roots or scattered bones on the ground

Jorogumo has the appearance of a beautiful woman from her head to her torso, while the rest of her body looks like that of a giant spider with eight hairy legs. Using the allure of her upper body, she attracts young, virile men, her preferred prey. Once an infatuated man approaches, she injects a potent venom to immobilize him, making him unable to move a muscle or utter a sound. She then brings him back to her lair, where she keeps him for days, bound in her web, slowly feed