| Nuppeppo | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Nuppeppo |
|
First Appearance |
Japanese Folklore |
|
Created by |
Japanese Folklore |
Origin[]
The nuppeppō is a yōkai that appears in Edo Period yōkai emaki such as the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō and the Hyakkai Zukan. It is depicted with indistinguishable wrinkles on its face and body as a one head blob of meat. The origins of the nuppeppō are unknown. However, it is sometimes described as constructed of the flesh of dead humans in a manner similar to Frankenstein's monster.
In Shingo Zade Hōdai Mōgyū, it was described as "it sucks the fat of the dead and eats to the fullest with a needle. In the past, they'd come disguised as a doctor, but now they just come as is.
It was also said that it smears ("nupperi") itself with white face powder, called "whitening" (白化), but this "whitening" has the meanings "pretending not to know, feigning ignorance," "deceive by pretending to speak frankly," "become open and unconcealed," "apply white facial powder," and "white monster," among others. It is said that as an embodiment of this "whitening," the nuppepō would first impersonate a human (pretending not to know), come to a pedestrian and talk as if friendly (speaking frankly), and as that person is letting their guard down, they'd show their true form (become open and unconcealed) and show their original appearance (a white monster, as if having applied white facial powder).
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Gazu Hyakki Yagyō
- Hyakkai Zukan
- Bakemono no e
- Isshōwa
- Shingo Zade Hōdai Mōgyū