TheBiwa-bokuboku (Japanese:琵琶牧々; meaning "Biwa goblin") is afictitious being fromJapanesefolklore. It belongs to a group ofyokai and is said to have an ambivalent character.
The Biwa-bokuboku is described as ananthropomorphic being with the head of atraditionalbiwa. He is also said to wear preciouskimono. The Biwa-bokuboku comes to life at night and sits calmly in atatami room, singing and plinking while lamenting the neglect of his former owner. Other stories report of Biwa-bokuboku dancing through inhabited houses while making much noise.[1][2][3]
The Biwa-bokuboku was modeled after thebiwa (琵琶), a short-necked, woodenlute.Toriyama Sekien reports in his workHyakki Tsurezure Bukuro (百器徒然袋) that the biwa was designed afterChinese instruments such as thebokuma and thegenjō.[1][2][3]
The Biwa-bokuboku belongs to a special group of yōkai: theTsukumogami (Japanese:付喪神,lit. 'artifact ghosts'). This special group is believed to comprise nearly all kinds of man-made household artifacts, such as kitchenware, tools and every-day accessories, when 100 years have passed and the artifact was as good as if it had never been used.[4] The Biwa-bokuboku will come to life when feeling ignored or useless. As revenge (and out of frustration), they wander through the rooms of inhabited houses at night and lament loudly over their neglect. Alternatively, they meet with other Tsukumogami and throw noisy parties or they leave home and stroll around in search of others with whom to commiserate.[1][2][3]