Oiwa Inari Shrine and the great mistress of vengeful ghosts (9 photos)

At the height of the Japanese horror boom, films like The Ring and The Grudge introduced us to Sadako and Kayako. But long before them, another spirit had been woven into Japanese folklore for centuries. Her name is Lady Oiwa.





The terror of Lady Oiwa is depicted in the 1825 kabuki play Yotsuya Kaidan by Tsuruya Namboku. In the play, Lady Oiwa of the Tamiya clan is married to a ronin - a masterless samurai named Iemon, who, coincidentally, is the object of love of another woman named Oume. As part of a plot to destroy their relationship, Oume sends Oiwa a poisoned face cream. Oiwa's face is disfigured immediately after applying the cream, and in shock, she accidentally kills herself by falling on her own sword. She then turns into a vengeful spirit that haunts the other characters, bringing them misfortune.



Street leading to Oiwa Inari Shrine

"Yotsuya Kaidan" is one of the most famous ghost stories in Japan. The play was so well received that centuries later, many people still associate the name of Lady Oiwa with the fictional ghost and believe that her former home is haunted. This echoes in popular culture, where modern ghost story characters inherit some of her characteristics.

The Real Lady Oiwa





The Main Building of the Shrine

The real Lady Oiwa lived two hundred years before the play and, unlike her fictional counterpart, was known for her impeccable character - a true "ryosai kembo" (good wife, wise mother) who served as a role model for many young women. The Tamiya clan actually lived on a plot of land in Yotsuya, and the Oiwa Inari Shrine now stands on its site.



Main Hall of Oiwa Inari

Considering that the play was based on real events involving different people, it is unclear why Namboku chose Lady Oiwa as the character instead. Perhaps the familiar name made the play more memorable. Perhaps it helped the audience become more immersed in the story.



Clips showing productions and film adaptations of the famous play

It is rather strange that the achievements of a worthy woman were eventually replaced by the shock value of a fictional story, but that is how it happened. And the name of Lady Oiwa remains immortal, albeit in this way.



The Oiwa Inari Shrine stands on the land where the Tamiya clan once lived. The cozy shrine remained uninhabited for most of its history. It is therefore easy to see why people believe it to be haunted.



The shrine pays homage to the real Lady Oiwa, from whom it takes part of its name, but it also pays homage to the fictional version, as evidenced by the numerous clippings from various adaptations of the play that are placed on one of its sides.



Oiwa's Phantom Appearance

It is said that many women come to Oiwa Inari. They pray to become like Lady Oiwa and live a good life. Some reports also say that directors, producers, and actors also come here to pay their respects every time the Yotsuya Kaidan is staged or adapted into any media.



Paper for notes with wishes