Major historical events like war, famine, and natural disasters provide a major foundation from which folklore can grow. It becomes a way for us to make sense out of something so horrific.

These tragedies often leave behind countless bodies that never receive any kind of proper burial, and these fears and concerns have lead to one of the most feared Yokai in Japan – The Gashadokuro.

A Gashadokuro is created when a large amount of restless spirits who weren’t properly buried come together; combining their size, strength, frustration, and hatred for the living. All of these emotions accumulate into a colossal skeleton more than 100ft tall.

Wondering through the countryside after dark, in search of people to devour. Sneaking up on travelers or villagers before crushing them and biting off their heads.

Despite its size, the Gashadokuro is completely silent when stalking a victim, and casts no shadow. The only way to know if one’s getting close is a slowly increasing ringing sound in your ears. However, after dark there are accounts of villagers hearing a faint sound of bones rattling in the distance.

An invisible, indestructible spirit of hatred, there is no escaping this Yokai. They can’t be tricked into making a deal like a Kappa, or destroyed like a Nukekubi.

The Gashadokuro will only disappear after its hatred and malice are depleted, and the souls are finally able to move on. However this can take over 1000 years. So it’s not something to outrun.

But lets end on a slightly more positive interpretation.

Like all Yokai, there are many different interpretation and symbolism behind the Gashadokuro. Some believe it’s a representation of unity. Signifying what people can achieve when working together, striving for a single goal.

So while bringing together hatred and malice create something truly evil, bringing together compassion and unity can lead to great things.