ZASHIKI-WARASHI
Lore
A Zashiki-warashi-is a household spirit said to dwell in living rooms or storage areas. Its name reflects both its regional origins. In the northeast of Japan, warashi means "child," while jasiki refers to the quiet tatami-floored chambers behind the master's bedroom-private spaces often found at the rear of the house.
These spirits are beloved and revered by many, for they are believed to bring prosperity and good fortune to the families whose homes they inhabit. Direct sightings are rare, and most who glimpse them describe nothing more than a hazy, childlike figure.
Yet on those fortunate occasions when people do manage a closer look, Zashiki-warashi usually appears as a child of about five or six years old, with rosy cheeks and unbound hair. However, the child's apparent age can vary, from as young as three to as old as fifteen, depending on the home.
Sometimes the spirit's hair is cut in a short bob; other times it's disheveled. More than one Zashiki-warashi can live in the same house-for instance, a boy and a girl. Boys may sport miniature warrior armor, while girls wear ornate kimono.
