Okiku and the Nine Plates is a story about the tragic suffering of a plate-counting, well-dwelling ghost called Okiku. It is a famous Japanese folktale that can be traced back to the Kabuki play, Banchō Sarayashiki (Broken Dishes at Banchō Mansion). There are many variants to the story of how Okiku’s tortured soul came to inhabit the bottom of a well. Following is the folklore version.
As the tale goes, Okiku was a beautiful servant maid who worked for the samurai Tessan Aoyama. Aoyama attempted to seduce Okiku making amorous advances, which she rejected. In anger, he hid a precious ceramic plate that belonged to a treasured collection of ten heirloom plates. He then ordered Okiku to fetch the plates and count them in front of him. She counted only nine plates. Aoyama blamed the loss of the plate on Okiku however, as a concession, he offered to overlook the small matter of the missing heirloom if she relented and became his mistress. Okiku again refused and so an enraged Aoyama killed her, disposing her body down a well.
The vengeful spirit of the hapless Okiku tormented and tortured her murderer as a ghost from the afterlife. Each night she was heard from the depths of the well obsessively counting from one to nine, after which she gave a heartrending wail. Desperately trying to find the missing tenth plate she would begin counting again.
As well as being famous Japanese folklore, the story of Okiku is also a popular subject for ukiyoue artists. Probably her most famous depiction is her appearance as one of the New Forms of Thirty-Six Ghosts by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (print above). She was also included by Katsushika Hokusai (check out The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife) as one of the ‘kaidan’ entitled ‘Sarayashiki’ in his One Hundred Tales (Hyaku Monogatari) series (print below).
The story also forms the basis for a number of books and movies. Most notably the story is also the inspiration for the 1998 Japanese horror mystery film, Ring (リング Ringu) adapted from the novel of the same name.
Fast fact: In 1795, old wells in Japan suffered from an infestation of a type of worm that became known as the “Okiku bug” (Okiku mushi). This worm, covered with thin threads making it look as though it had been bound, was widely believed to be a reincarnation of Okiku.
This article is a submission for the Japan Blog Matsuri hosted by Mazikeen.
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“Each night she was heard from the depths of the well obsessively counting from one to nine, after which she gave a heartrending wail.”
Jesus Christ. What’s that do to property values.
Interesting tale, reesan. Now I’ll be seeing that girl from The Ring stomping toward me all evening.
There are a few locations where the well is believed to be located. One location is Himeji Castle. The other is the garden of the Canadian embassy in Tokyo – established on land bought from the Aoyama family.
Figures that the lousy Canadians would factor into this.
Great stuff as usual Lee!
Okiku should have become a succubus, and instead of haunting a well and looking for missing plates she would come to his bedroom every night and sucked the life out of him (literally) …try telling that one to your kids at bedtime (-;
Loco
good call loco! i wish i had a succubus. you reminded me of the south park episode where the chef succumbs to a succubus with the following memorable quote:
Mr. Garrison: And never let poontang come between you and your friend!
Chef: Damn right, Garrison!
This South Park quote from the Succubus episode is even better:
Mr. Garrison: Yeah, I tell you boys, women can kill. Poontang’s expensive. That’s why when it comes to chicks, I just screw them and leave them. I’d say “get out of my bedroom, poontang, before you suck my life dry!”
That’s cool. I never knew リング was based on folklore. I guess it makes sense though. A lot of American movies are based on folklore as well, of the European variety.
I enjoy reading folk tales like this.
> I enjoy reading folk tales like this.
OCD aspect aside, I agree. Something unsettling about a drowned/murdered woman counting at the bottom of a well over and over again.
Ghost: “One, two .. eight, nine. Nine? Noo, no, noooo!” (shrieking)
Me: “It’s fucking 02:13!”
Ghost: “One, two….”
Me: “…”
By the way, how does this Matsuri thing work? Is there a list that’s set up of all the relevant posts and then a voting poll after the closing date?
Yeah, Mazikeen (the host) will post a list of submissions sometime near the end of this month. For example, here is my list of submissions for January’s matsuri.
You can join this group to be notified of matsuri theme announcements etc.
Are you interested in hosting?
Thanks for the information. Perhaps in half a year, when I start taking college courses related to Japan and my blogging focus changes, I’ll get involved with this!
What a wonderful post, and one of my favourite prints as well!
I just watched all of the Ringu series last week and feel so dumb as I did not make the connection!
There is also an old black and white film, that tells the story, called Kaidan Bancho sara yashiki (The Ghost in the Well) from 1957. It is rather good.
isnt this the girl from the movie the ring?
If someone happens to confirm the actual location of the well, would you have the balls to camp over night next to it?
do any of you know any haunted locations around Tokyo?
Now that is a cool challenge! One location of where the well is believed to be situated is the garden of the Canadian embassy in Tokyo.
You could live stream it Blair Witch Project style!
“There are Canadians! I am so scared. Well… bored more than anything. They’re talking about the weather again.”
I’m game if you are game ^^ I know the young uns like to take these challenges in abandoned hospitals >_<
Personally, I think people are more scary than Ghosts haha