Obake

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A mythological figure from Japanese folklore known for its ability to take on various forms, often considered a spectral presence linked to cultural narratives
2. This entity is characterized by its shapeshifting nature, playing a significant role in traditional stories and ghostly myths in Japanese culture
3. A supernatural being in Japanese mythology that can transform its appearance and is often associated with ghostly tales and folklore

Etymology: Japanese "obake" comes from a verb, "obakeru," meaning "to change form" or "to transform," and the noun came to name the shapeshifting spirits that result. The word's roots lie in "bakeru," "to bewitch" or "to take on another shape," which is why the word carries the sense of something that is not what it appears to be. Ghosts were not the original focus; the idea of a thing that changes its outward appearance is what the word encodes. English borrowed the word directly from Japanese, so it keeps the Japanese sense of a creature that transforms rather than simply a haunting spirit. In Japanese folklore, obake include animal spirits, tea kettles, umbrellas and other everyday objects that grow legs or faces, and the term covers all of them.