Kerakera-onna (けらけら女)

Name Meaning

Overview

Kerakera-onna (けらけら女) literally translates to "cackling woman" in Japanese. The word "kerakera" mimics the sound of high-pitched laughter.

Origin

  • Appears in obscure folk legends from various rural regions in Japan.
  • Often linked to mysterious and frightening phenomena in the night sky.

Appearance

  • Described as a giant female figure looming in the clouds or high above the ground.
  • Always laughing loudly, with wild hair and exaggerated facial expressions.

Behavior & Myths

  • Appears unexpectedly, causing unease and fright among villagers and travelers.
  • Her cackling is believed to bring bad luck, especially to those who hear it clearly.
  • Some stories say that witnessing her is a harbinger of strange events or misfortune.

Symbolism

  • Symbolizes eerie laughter, madness, and fear of the unknown above.
  • May reflect the fear of being mocked or haunted by unseen powers.
Kerakera-onna sky yokai
Laughing yokai woman in sky

Japanese Culture Network

Japanese Wood Joints

Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen

ShrinePuzzle

Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games

Kohibou

Japanese coffee culture — kissaten, third wave and brewing guides

E2Japan

Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations

The 725 Club

SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker

Spaceship Adventures

Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development

Japan In Pixels

A pixel art map of Japanese culture — coming 2027

CSSKitsune

Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts