Umi Zatō

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Umi Zatō in "Gazu Hyakki Yagyō."
Umi Zatō in "Hyakki Yagyō Emaki."

Umi Zatō (海座頭?) is a Japanese yokai. It has been featured in several emakimono such as "Gazu Hyakki Yagyō", drawn and painted by Toriyama Sekien, and "Hyakki Yagyō Emaki", which is in the collection of the Matsui Library.

Overview

In Yōkai arts, Umi Zatō is seemed to be like giant Biwa hōshi, standing in the sea, and holding a cane by its right hand.[1] However, there are no explanations about Umi Zatō in "Gazu Hyakki Yagyō" or "Hyakki Yagyō Emaki." So it's unknown that the original purpose for painting Umi Zatō. Murakami Kenji, a Yōkai specialist says : "I think Umi Zatō exists in only illustrations.".[2]

Some books, which were published after World War II, interpret that Umi Zatō is a kind of Umibōzu, which frequently appears in Sanriku Coast, Iwate prefecture.[1][3] Although Umi Zatō is now considered as a kind of Umibōzu, Umi Zatō appears in different seasons toward Umibōzu, and it's said that Umi Zatō appears after Umibōzu disappeared or the end of the month.[1] Umi Zatō can walk on water, threaten fishermans, and beckon ships to make them overturn.[1] Besides, Umi Zatō sometimes swallow ships in one bite.う.[4] There is another theory that Umi Zatō like a Zatō appears on the sea and makes the people in ships surprised.[5] To repel Umi Zatō, people should answer Umi Zatō's questions honestly.[1]

References

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