Nobusuma (のぶすま)

Name Meaning

Overview

Nobusuma (のぶすま) is a yokai whose name has uncertain origins, but it's typically associated with eerie obstructions or flying creatures.

Origin

• Featured in Edo-period yokai emaki (picture scrolls).
• Appears in multiple regions with slightly different interpretations.
• Sometimes described as a transformed squirrel or fox.

Appearance

• Often illustrated as a large, shadowy creature with wings like a flying squirrel.
• Other accounts describe it as an invisible barrier or ghostly wall.
• Eyes may glow or be completely absent in drawings.

Behavior & Myths

• Blocks travelers’ paths or glides silently across roads and rooftops.
• Causes confusion and fear, sometimes immobilizing its victims.
• Some legends suggest exorcising it by calling out its name loudly.

Symbolism

• Represents disorientation, unseen fears, and the unknown.
• May be a metaphor for spiritual blockage or hesitance.
• Symbolic of natural or supernatural resistance during a journey.