The Most Famous Story Of Japanese Horror- Yotsuya Kaidan
A story of betrayal, murder, and lots of ghosts
My idea of Japan used to be anime and, probably Kimonos. Then, I realized that they have this vast collection of spine-chilling ghost stories, and I was hooked. Yotsuya Kaidan is one of the most popular ghost stories even told in Japanese culture.
Yotsuya Kaidan, formerly known as Tōkaidō Yotsuya Kaidan is a Japanese Ghost story, written by Tsuruya Nanboku IV in the year 1825 as a Kabuki (typical Japanese dance-drama) play.
Since then, it has been adapted for films for over 30 times and is recounted with fervor. Over the years, the plot has been exaggerated and modified a lot of times, yet the original part consists of five acts and each has a multitude of subplots.
ACT 1
Oiwa is a woman of head-turning beauty, and she is married to Tamiya Iemon, a rōnin (A rōnin is a disgraced Samurai or a Samurai whose master has died). But it becomes apparent that Iemon doesn’t care much about his wife. He is an avaricious man after Oiwa’s appearance and fortune.
The scene begins with Iemon arguing with his father-in-law, Yotsuya Samon. Iemon murders Samon in a fit of anger when Samon wanted Oiwa to leave Iemon (Yes, that’s the way you woo a girl. You murder her dad).
Subplot
A man, Naosuke, lusts after Oiwa’s sister, Osode, who is a prostitute despite Osode being married to Satô Yomoshichi.
Yomoshichi and Takuetsu, Osode’s brothel owner (Evidently, the concept of ownership is very different from that of today) humiliate Naosuke for being unable to pay the demanded fee, and he is evicted from the brothel.
In a drunken stupor, Naosuke murders Okuda Shôzaburô, his former master, mistaking him to be Yomoshichi. Okuda’s murder happens at about the same time as Samon’s murder.
Intertwine
Here Iemon and Naosuke are seen conspiring to dupe Oiwa and Osode. They claim that Samon was murdered by a robber and they could avenge his death. Both the damsels believe the lie, Oiwa reconciles with Iemon, and Osode agrees to marry Naosuke in return.
ACT 2
Oume is the granddaughter of a physician, Itô Kihei. She gets smitten with Iemon and wants Oiwa out of the way. Oiwa being much prettier is an obstacle. So, Oume and Itô devise a plan and give Oiwa a face cream (which is toxic).
Oiwa applies the cream and unbeknownst to her, one of her eyes droop, and her face becomes disfigured. Iemon is aghast and repulsed by her appearance. In the meantime, Oume seduces Iemon, and this makes divorce an urgent affair. To find a valid reason, he asks his friend, Takuetsu, to rape her and later frame her for infidelity.
Genius plan, or so he thought.
Takuetsu enters the room with the purpose in mind but is horrified by what he saw. Wordlessly, he hands Oiwa a mirror. Oiwa sees her ghastly reflection and is grief-stricken. She tries covering up her disfiguration, but her hair starts falling in clumps.
This scene especially received the accolade from the audience. The scene usually has Oiwa sitting in front of a mirror, and a helper keeps pushing in hair to make it appear as if it’s falling in masses.
Takuetsu explains Iemon’s agenda. Oiwa is hysterical and runs a sword through her throat. As she gurgles blood, she curses Iemon’s name.
Soon after, Iemon and Oume get married. On their wedding night, Iemon sees Oiwa’s onryō (a ghost seeking revenge for the wrongs wrought). He takes his sword and lashes at her. He comes out of his vision and finds his new bride in a pool of blood. He sees Oiwa in lanterns, slashes his sword, and BAM! he has murdered Oume’s grandfather.
ACT 3
Oume’s entire family falls prey to Iemon. Every one of them is decimated. The scene ends with Naosuke and Yomoshichi grappling for a valuable document of Iemon.
ACT 4
Naosuke is forcing Osode, the prostitute (now his wife), to make love. But she keeps evading him for an unforeseen reason. Yomoshichi accuses Osode of infidelity (I still am not sure how the marriage in older Japan works). Osode resigns to her fate and is killed for her debauchery.
Naosuke reads a letter written by Osode just before her death. It informs him that she is his long-lost younger sister, and that’s why she refused to sleep with him.
Naosuke is overcome with shame and commits suicide.
ACT 5
Iemon tries to flee to a mountain cave but is haunted by Oiwa’s ghost. Unable to differentiate between the hallucinations and reality, he is driven mad. The scene closes with Yomoshichi slaying Iemon as vengeance for ruining the lives of Oiwa and Osode.
The story of Oiwa and Iemon is immensely popular in Japan and narrated as folklore.
