TV-Series
Description
Abura-Sumashi emerges from Japanese folklore, specifically tied to the mountain passes of Amakusa in Kumamoto Prefecture. This yōkai is said to be the ghost of a human who stole valuable oil, essential for lighting and heating before electricity. Stealing oil, especially from temples or shrines, invited divine punishment: reincarnation as a yōkai. Legends place this rare spirit in deep mountains or tea-growing regions of southern Japan, surprising travelers.
He appears as a compact humanoid figure crowned by a large, potato-like head, often flattened or misshapen. His eyes typically seem half-closed or shut, paired with a calm smile. A traditional straw raincoat (mino) cloaks his body, and he carries a walking staff. Some depictions include a topknot. His distinctive head design draws inspiration from the crab-necked (Kane-kubi) Bunraku puppet, occasionally featuring the puppet’s back hair or topknot in adaptations.
Personality-wise, Abura-Sumashi is gentle and peaceful. He coexists amicably with other yōkai and avoids harming humans. He frequently aids the Kitarō Family as a wise elder or adviser. His demeanor is calm and approachable, often inviting others to play shogi, his favorite pastime. He regularly shares games with Konaki-Jijii and extends invitations to Kitarō, though urgent missions sometimes cause Kitarō to decline.
Abura-Sumashi first appeared in Shigeru Mizuki’s manga *The Great Yōkai Trial* among a crowd protesting Kitarō. Over the course of the 1980s manga, he established himself as a recurring resident of GeGeGe Forest, assuming a village elder role. His assistance to the Kitarō Family includes extracting oil from humans, countering enemy spells, and providing vital knowledge during missions. He notably accompanied Kitarō to Jigoku (Hell) in the *Kitarō Jigoku Arc*, offering crucial insights about the realm. In *Kitarō Kunitori Monogatari*, he served as an adviser during Kitarō’s missions, paralleling the roles of Konaki-Jijii and Sunakake-Babaa.
His anime debut featured background appearances in the 1968 series. The 1985 anime gave him prominence in the episode *Hell Journey! Ghost Train!!*, reprising his manga role during Kitarō’s journey to Jigoku. The 1996 anime cast him as a resident of the Yōkai Apartments, while the 2007 series depicted him as the mayor of Yōkai Yokochō (Monster Alley). In the 2018 anime (episode 4, *The Strange, Forbidden Forest*), he resided inside a tree trunk, emerging to greet Kitarō, Neko-Musume, and their human companion Yūta. He later warned Nezumi-Otoko of danger from Yama-Jijii’s black hands. He also appeared among the yōkai protesting Agnès’s presence in GeGeGe Forest, ultimately supporting Kitarō’s stance against Backbeard’s invasion.
Beyond the main series, Abura-Sumashi appeared in the spin-off *NonNonBa*, teaming with Azuki-Arai and Azuki-Hakari to sing and dance for children at Yōkai Theater. In the film *The Great Yōkai War*, he served as Nurarihyon’s implied second-in-command. Here, he demonstrated the ability to deflate his head to normal size at will. He inspected the damaged Dai-Tengu Sword, mocked Tadashi’s performance as Kirin-Jishi, and located Ippon-Datara using Ungaikyō. Initially refusing to join the war against Yasunori Katō, he participated in the final battle.
Abura-Sumashi possesses several supernatural abilities. He demonstrates remarkable neck flexibility, turning his head nearly 180 degrees, as seen greeting Nezumi-Otoko. Additional powers include soul transferring, oil body transformation, and target intaking, though specific mechanics vary across adaptations. His folklore roots emphasize his role as a spectral entity born of human transgression, reinforcing his narrative function as a bridge between myth and the series’ thematic exploration of yōkai-human coexistence.
He appears as a compact humanoid figure crowned by a large, potato-like head, often flattened or misshapen. His eyes typically seem half-closed or shut, paired with a calm smile. A traditional straw raincoat (mino) cloaks his body, and he carries a walking staff. Some depictions include a topknot. His distinctive head design draws inspiration from the crab-necked (Kane-kubi) Bunraku puppet, occasionally featuring the puppet’s back hair or topknot in adaptations.
Personality-wise, Abura-Sumashi is gentle and peaceful. He coexists amicably with other yōkai and avoids harming humans. He frequently aids the Kitarō Family as a wise elder or adviser. His demeanor is calm and approachable, often inviting others to play shogi, his favorite pastime. He regularly shares games with Konaki-Jijii and extends invitations to Kitarō, though urgent missions sometimes cause Kitarō to decline.
Abura-Sumashi first appeared in Shigeru Mizuki’s manga *The Great Yōkai Trial* among a crowd protesting Kitarō. Over the course of the 1980s manga, he established himself as a recurring resident of GeGeGe Forest, assuming a village elder role. His assistance to the Kitarō Family includes extracting oil from humans, countering enemy spells, and providing vital knowledge during missions. He notably accompanied Kitarō to Jigoku (Hell) in the *Kitarō Jigoku Arc*, offering crucial insights about the realm. In *Kitarō Kunitori Monogatari*, he served as an adviser during Kitarō’s missions, paralleling the roles of Konaki-Jijii and Sunakake-Babaa.
His anime debut featured background appearances in the 1968 series. The 1985 anime gave him prominence in the episode *Hell Journey! Ghost Train!!*, reprising his manga role during Kitarō’s journey to Jigoku. The 1996 anime cast him as a resident of the Yōkai Apartments, while the 2007 series depicted him as the mayor of Yōkai Yokochō (Monster Alley). In the 2018 anime (episode 4, *The Strange, Forbidden Forest*), he resided inside a tree trunk, emerging to greet Kitarō, Neko-Musume, and their human companion Yūta. He later warned Nezumi-Otoko of danger from Yama-Jijii’s black hands. He also appeared among the yōkai protesting Agnès’s presence in GeGeGe Forest, ultimately supporting Kitarō’s stance against Backbeard’s invasion.
Beyond the main series, Abura-Sumashi appeared in the spin-off *NonNonBa*, teaming with Azuki-Arai and Azuki-Hakari to sing and dance for children at Yōkai Theater. In the film *The Great Yōkai War*, he served as Nurarihyon’s implied second-in-command. Here, he demonstrated the ability to deflate his head to normal size at will. He inspected the damaged Dai-Tengu Sword, mocked Tadashi’s performance as Kirin-Jishi, and located Ippon-Datara using Ungaikyō. Initially refusing to join the war against Yasunori Katō, he participated in the final battle.
Abura-Sumashi possesses several supernatural abilities. He demonstrates remarkable neck flexibility, turning his head nearly 180 degrees, as seen greeting Nezumi-Otoko. Additional powers include soul transferring, oil body transformation, and target intaking, though specific mechanics vary across adaptations. His folklore roots emphasize his role as a spectral entity born of human transgression, reinforcing his narrative function as a bridge between myth and the series’ thematic exploration of yōkai-human coexistence.