Name Meaning
Amefurikozō (雨降小僧) is a cheerful and mysterious rain spirit often portrayed as a little boy who brings or enjoys the rain. He is usually harmless, sometimes mischievous, and associated with sudden showers or prolonged drizzles.
- Amefuri (雨降り) = Falling rain
- Kozō (小僧) = Young boy or servant → “Rain-Falling Boy”
Origin
- Common in Edo period yōkai illustrations and folk stories.
- Sometimes associated with Shinto weather deities or minor kami.
Appearance
- Looks like a small boy in a traditional kasa hat and kimono.
- Often depicted holding a lantern or umbrella.
- Usually barefoot and smiling under the rain.
Behavior & Legends
- Appears during rainy weather, particularly in summer or during sudden showers.
- May extend the rain with his presence or vanish to allow the sun to return.
- Some versions say he plays tricks on people caught in the rain or swaps umbrellas.
Symbolism
- Represents the unpredictability of weather and nature’s childlike spirit.
- Reminds us to find joy in nature’s cycles and even in gloomy days.
- Serves as a gentle yōkai compared to more ominous or dangerous spirits.
