Name Meaning
Kosode-no-te (小袖の手) means “hands of the kosode,” referring to a short-sleeved kimono inhabited or animated by spectral hands.
- Kosode (小袖) = short-sleeved kimono
- Te (手) = hand
Origin
- Appears in Edo-period ghost stories and haunted object tales.
- Associated with garments of the dead or cursed possessions.
- Linked to wrathful spirits who once wore the kimono.
Appearance
- A floating kosode with ghostly hands emerging from the sleeves.
- The fabric may shimmer unnaturally or move on its own.
- Sometimes seen wringing itself or reaching toward people.
Behavior & Myths
- Appears in haunted places or old households with tragic histories.
- May attempt to strangle sleepers or clutch at passersby.
- Can be exorcised with ritual purification or returned to its grave.
Symbolism
- Embodies lingering attachments, vengeance, or unrest.
- Represents the spiritual power imbued in personal belongings.
- A cautionary reminder to respect the items of the dead.
