Nurikabe (塗り壁)

About this Yokai

Nurikabe (塗り壁) is a mysterious yokai said to appear on dark rural roads in northern Kyushu. Travelers suddenly find their path blocked by an invisible wall that prevents them from moving forward. Attempting to walk around it proves impossible, as the barrier seems to extend endlessly to the sides. According to folklore, striking the lower part of the unseen wall with a stick can make it disappear. The phenomenon was recorded by folklorist YANAGITA Kunio in the twentieth century based on local oral traditions. In modern popular culture, the nurikabe is often depicted as a large wall-like creature with eyes and limbs, an imaginative interpretation popularized by manga artist MIZUKI Shigeru.

Artist’s Note

I pictured the nurikabe as a mischievous spirit that lurks in the shadows, suddenly blocking a traveler’s path. I placed it in the shadow of an Edo-period merchant’s shop, as if waiting to ambush passersby. I especially enjoyed the process of drawing the architecture.