The Tales of Tono (Tōno Monogatari): Ghosts, Goblins, and the Spirits of Rural Japan
Imagine a sleepy little village nestled between misty mountains, where the wind whispers old secrets through the tall grass and every shadow might hide something mysterious. Welcome to Tōno, a real town in Iwate Prefecture, and home to one of Japan’s most beloved collections of folk tales: The Tales of Tono (『遠野物語』). Oh, and I used to live there.
This book isn’t just a bunch of spooky stories. It’s a cultural treasure, a time machine, and a window into the heart of Japan’s rural imagination.
What Is The Tales of Tono?
The Tales of Tono is a book first published in 1910 by folklorist Kunio Yanagita. It contains 119 short stories and legends gathered from a local storyteller named Kizen Sasaki, who grew up hearing these tales in his hometown of Tōno.
These stories weren’t written to entertain children. They were part of everyday life. They were tales told around the fire, warnings whispered on dark paths, and beliefs passed from grandmother to grandchild. Yanagita realised that Japan’s traditional rural culture was disappearing fast with modernisation, and Tōno Monogatari was his way of preserving that vanishing world.
What Kind of Stories Are Inside?
Expect everything from ghosts and gods to talking animals, mountain witches, and shape-shifting foxes. Here are a few favourite characters and story types:
1. Zashiki-warashi
These are mischievous child spirits who live in old houses. If you see one, your family will be blessed with good fortune, but if they leave, misfortune will follow. They’re cute, creepy, and deeply loved in Tōno’s folklore.
2. Yama-uba (Mountain Hags)
Beware of the mountains! These old witches lure people into their huts and… well, you might not come back. They’re feared and respected, and said to be both dangerous and wise.
3. Fox Spirits (Kitsune)
Foxes are clever tricksters in Japanese lore. In Tōno, there are tales of foxes possessing people, playing pranks, or even falling in love with humans. Not all of them are bad, they are just… sneaky. It’s funny that foxes play a very similar role in British folklore as well.
4. Kappa
Yes, the turtle-like river creatures make an appearance too! These water goblins love cucumbers, sumo wrestling, and causing trouble near rivers. But if you bow politely, they might bow back (and spill the magical water from their heads, which makes them powerless).
Why Is It So Important?
Tōno Monogatari is considered the first work of Japanese folklore studies, and it launched a whole field of academic and cultural exploration. But it’s also a living document. Even today, people in Tōno will tell you stories their grandparents heard from their grandparents.
It’s a peek into how rural people once explained natural disasters, sickness, love, death, and the things science couldn’t yet explain. And it’s written in a very plain, almost journal-like style, like someone just saying, “Oh yeah, my neighbour saw a ghost yesterday. Anyway, the rice is ready.”
Tōno Today: A Town of Legends
If you visit Tōno today, you can:
– Explore museums dedicated to Tōno Monogatari
– Walk the “Folktale Road”, filled with statues and signs referencing the stories
– Visit the Kappa Pool, where you might meet a real kappa (or at least throw in a cucumber!) You can even purchase a kappa fishing licence allowing you to fish for kappa using a cucumber tied to a fishing rod. If you are successful, there is even a monetary award, but so far, no one has succeeded. Will you be the first?
– Stay in traditional farmhouses, where locals might just share a tale or two over dinner
There are even guided storytelling tours, where you can sit around a hearth while someone in a kimono recounts the old legends just like in the book.
What Makes It So Special?
Tōno Monogatari isn’t flashy or epic like other mythologies. It’s humble. Quiet. A little weird. It’s full of half-believed stories, local gossip, and things people said happened to “a friend of a friend.”
But that’s exactly why it feels so real.
It captures a moment in time when the spiritual world and the human world overlapped. When the wind in the trees might be a mountain god’s breath, and when life’s mysteries were wrapped in wonder instead of data.
Final Thoughts: Why You Should Read It
Even over a century later, The Tales of Tono still feels alive. Whether you’re a folklore fan, a ghost story collector, or just someone who loves the idea of a magical countryside, this book is a must-read.
And if you ever find yourself wandering through the misty hills of Iwate… keep your eyes open. Tōno’s spirits might just still be watching.
