Name Meaning
Kasha (火車) means “fire cart” or “fiery vehicle,” though the creature is more often described as a demonic cat that steals corpses during funerals or from graves.
- Ka (火) = fire
- Sha (車) = vehicle or cart
Origin
- Found in Buddhist-influenced folklore, especially in Edo period ghost stories.
- May derive from Chinese tales of underworld messengers or demon cats.
- Associated with punishment of the wicked after death.
Appearance
- Fiery, monstrous cat-like yokai with claws, fangs, and glowing eyes.
- Sometimes depicted riding on or pulling a flaming cart.
- May have wings or descend from the sky cloaked in fire.
Behavior & Myths
- Steals the bodies of sinners during funerals or cremation rituals.
- Feared for disrupting Buddhist burial rites.
- People would guard coffins or use talismans to ward off the kasha.
Symbolism
- Embodies karmic punishment and spiritual unrest after death.
- Acts as a warning against evil deeds in life.
- Appears in Noh plays, ukiyo-e, and yokai picture scrolls.
