About this Yōkai

Sofunyubo (挿不入坊), “The Uninsertable One,” is a type of tech-related yōkai said to have emerged in urban areas in the 21st century. This yōkai is associated with the curious phenomenon in which a USB plug never seems to insert correctly unless flipped twice. Scholars have noted its similarity to traditional Japanese beliefs in tsukumogami and spirits inhabiting tools and objects.

According to folklore, Sofunyubo has a long, thin black body with a glowing hole on one side that resembles a USB port. It is draped in cloth like an old monk’s robe. At the very moment someone attempts to plug in a USB, it is said to appear behind them and whisper, “Wrong way… wrong way…”

Artist’s Note

This yōkai appears around me quite often—especially when I am rushing to meet a deadline.