貉Mujina

Read a sample in Japanese

What you'll learn

A merchant walking up Kikuzaka late at night encounters a weeping woman by the moat. When he tries to help, she turns to reveal a face with no features, causing him to flee in terror. He later encounters a soba vendor who rubs his own face into a featureless egg, confirming the supernatural presence.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～たものである N3Used to express a habitual action or state in the past.
  ためにおそく通る徒歩者は、日没後に、ひとりでこの紀国坂を登るよりは、むしろ幾哩も𢌞り道をしたものである。
• ～のではないか N4Expresses a speculation or concern that something might be the case.
  身を投げるのではないかと心配して、商人は足をとどめ。
• ～に過ぎない N2Means 'merely' or 'nothing but'.
  それは道側に屋台を下していた売り歩く蕎麦屋の提灯に過ぎない事が解った。
• ～た挙句 N1Indicates the final result after a long process, often with negative nuance.
  ただひた走りに走りつづけた挙句、ようよう遥か遠くに、蛍火の光っているように見える提灯を見つけて、その方に向って行った。
• ～を以て N1Means 'with' or 'by means of', formal equivalent of で.
  その長い一方の袖を以て商人に顔を隠して。

Cultural notes

• 紀国坂 (Kikuzaka Hill)A real location in Akasaka, Tokyo. In folklore, it was known as a haunted spot where mujina (badger spirits) would appear.
• 貉 (Mujina)A Japanese raccoon dog (tanuki) but specifically a shapeshifting badger spirit in folklore. Often depicted as tricksters that can transform into humans, like the faceless woman in this story.
• 蕎麦屋 (Soba stall vendor)A street vendor selling soba noodles. In the story, the soba vendor is also a mujina in disguise, revealing his true form by rubbing his face into an egg-like shape.

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Topics & grammar

Short Storyghost storyfolkloresupernaturalfeareeriesuspenseful