The Bake-kujira (
Japanese: 化鯨, ghost whale)[a] is a
mythical Japanese yōkai (
ghost, phantom, or strange
apparition) from western Japan. It is described as being a skeleton
whale that is accompanied by unknown fish and weird birds.[1][2] It takes its revenge against people who hunt whales or eat whale meat,[1][3] and does so by cursing them with plagues and fire.[4] It is also known as Hone Kujira (骨鯨, bone whale).[5]
Legends
In one story, a fisherman tries to catch it with his harpoon but the harpoon sailed right through it and the Bake-kujira floated away. In other stories people say that the Bake-kujira brings a curse and general misfortune to the area where it is spotted.[citation needed]
^McElroy, D. R. (2020). Superstitions: a handbook of folklore, myths, and legends from around the world. New York, NY: Wellfleet Press. p. 54.
ISBN978-1-57715-191-3.
^Roberts, Jeremy (2010). Japanese mythology A to Z (2nd ed.). New York: Chelsea House Publishers. p. 11.
ISBN978-1-60413-435-3.