Ohaguro-bettari (お歯黒べったり)

Name Meaning

Overview

Ohaguro-bettari (お歯黒べったり) combines the words "ohaguro" (blackened teeth, a beauty practice in old Japan) and "bettari" (entirely or only), referencing the monster’s only facial feature.

• お歯黒 (Ohaguro) = Blackened teeth
• べったり (Bettari) = Solely, only

Origin

• Common in Edo-period ghost stories and town legends.
• Linked with superstitions surrounding abandoned temples and dim alleyways.

Appearance

• Usually disguised as a beautiful woman in a bridal kimono.
• When approached, her face is revealed to be completely blank—except for a mouth with pitch-black teeth.

Behavior & Myths

• Startles men who try to woo her or follow her.
• May appear near temples, shrines, or haunted streets at night.

Symbolism

• Reflects societal fears of deceptive appearances.
• Serves as a warning against vanity or superficial attraction.