Thenurikabe (塗り壁 or塗壁[1]) is ayōkai, or spirit, fromJapanese folklore. Its name translates to "plaster wall", and it is said to manifest as an invisible wall that impedes or misdirects travelers walking at night.[2] Sometimes referred to in English as "The Wall" or "Mr. Wall", thisyōkai is described as quite tall, to prevent people from climbing over it, and wide enough to dampen any attempts to go around it.[1] Japanese scholar and folkloristKunio Yanagita recorded perhaps the most prominent early example ofnurikabe and otheryōkai in his books.[2] Manga artistShigeru Mizuki claims to have encountered anurikabe inNew Guinea, inspiring anurikabe character in hismangaGegege no Kitarō.[2]
Thenurikabe takes the form of a wall—usually invisible—that blocks the path of travelers as they're walking. With the exception ofMizuki Shigeru's experience in New Guinea, most legends and accounts ofnurikabe come fromKyūshū, in theŌita andFukuoka prefectures.[2] Some iterations of the legend say that trying to go around the wall is futile as it extends forever. Others say that knocking on the bottom left part of the wall with a stick will make it disappear, but that knocking on the upper part of it will yield no result.[2][3] It has been suggested that the legend of thenurikabe was created to explain travelers losing their bearings on long journeys.[4] Somenurikabe-like experiences that have been recorded have been attributed as the doing oftanuki, known astanuki no nurikabe. These happenings, instead of involving a wall, are instances where the traveler suddenly cannot see in front of themselves.[2]
Thenurikabe has been explicitly referenced in several forms of pop culture. There is anurikabe character named Nurikabe inShigeru Mizuki's manga seriesGegege no Kitarō. The character's main function is to be a shield in order to protect other members of the Kitarō family. Mizuki attributes much of his inspiration for the series to an experience he had with anurikabe in New Guinea[5] duringWorld War II, as well as to the writings ofKunio Yanagita.[2][6] Mizuki's illustration for thenurikabe gave it a more physical and anthropomorphic form with arms and legs, rather than the more traditional invisible wall concept.[6] TheMario franchise featuresnurikabe enemies called Whomps, which first appeared inSuper Mario 64.
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