Ame Onna: Japan's Rainy Day Kidnapper

Welcome to the Wet Side: Meet Ame Onna

Fancy a bit of gloom with your tea? Well, allow us to introduce you to the delightful Ame Onna (雨女), Japan’s very own rain woman. This rather drenched yokai is infamous for bringing perpetual downpours and, rather less charmingly, for whisking away innocent children.

From Rain Deity to Rainy Day Terror

Our dear Ame Onna wasn’t always such a miserable creature, mind you. Her story actually stretches back to ancient Chinese and Japanese folk religions. Originally, rain was thought to be brought by benevolent gods and goddesses. These divine beings would gracefully travel between heaven and earth. However, as stories often do, things took a rather dark turn. Some of these rain-bringing goddesses apparently got a bit corrupted. They devolved into evil yokai, abandoning their heavenly duties to prey on mortals. Toriyama Sekien, a rather influential artist, famously illustrated her around 1780.

A Rather Dapper (or Drab) Appearance for Ame Onna

So, what does one of these charming Ame Onna look like? Prepare yourself for something less than glamorous. They’re typically depicted as haggard, depraved women. Always soaked to the bone from the incessant rain they seem to conjure. And for a truly unsettling touch, they often lick the rainwater off their own hands and arms. Rather like wild animals, wouldn’t you say? Not exactly the picture of elegance, is it?

Ame Onna’s Unpleasant Business

Beyond the endless drizzle, Ame Onna has a truly sinister agenda. These yokai wander through villages, usually under the cover of their self-made storms. They are specifically looking for newborn girls to snatch away. It’s believed they spirit these unfortunate infants off to another world. In some incredibly sad tales, mothers who lose their babies to Ame Onna might transform into one themselves. Driven by unbearable grief and despair, these newcomers then roam the streets. They carry large sacks, desperately hoping to replace their stolen children. They’ll sneak into homes if they hear a crying baby.

Ame Onna in Contemporary Britain (and Japan!)

While the terrifying yokai version is firmly rooted in folklore, the term has a rather lighter, albeit still annoying, modern usage. In Japan, “Ame Onna” (or “Ame Otoko (雨男)” for men) refers to an unlucky person. Someone who seems to attract rain wherever they go. Planning a picnic? Invite her, and you’re guaranteed a downpour. Ruining weddings and sporting events? Sounds about right. So, if you know someone who always brings the rain, you might have a modern version of her on your hands. Just hopefully without the child-snatching part!

Whether a malevolent kidnapper or merely a meteorological misfortune, Ame Onna remains a fascinating and chilling figure in Japanese folklore. So, next time the heavens open, perhaps spare a thought for the soggy, child-seeking figure that might just be lurking in the shadows. And maybe double-check your windows.