Name Meaning
Ubume (産女) is the ghost of a woman who died while giving birth. The name literally means “birthing woman.”
- Ubu (産) = birth
- Me (女) = woman
Origin
- Found in Japanese ghost stories and Buddhist-influenced folklore.
- Associated with death during childbirth and the strong will to protect a child.
- Legends go back to the Heian and Edo periods.
Appearance
- Usually appears as a pale, sorrowful woman holding an infant.
- May be dressed in a white kimono (a funeral garment) and barefoot.
- Often seen in or around temples or roads at dusk.
Behavior & Myths
- May try to hand her baby off to a stranger before vanishing.
- Sometimes buys candy or clothes for her child from shops at night.
- Seen as a restless but sympathetic ghost.
Symbolism
- Represents maternal love and sorrow even after death.
- Serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of childbirth before modern medicine.
- Symbolizes the bond between mother and child beyond life.
