Yotsuya Kaidan is a old Japanese legend about a wife and husband and their tale of love, betrayal and vengeance.

It was converted and written into a Kakubi play by Tsuruya Nanboku V with the original title of the play being Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan.

The story/play starts off with Tamiya Iemon- a swordless samurai who in hope of raising his rank to the higher levels plans of marrying the daughter of Yotsuya Samon- Oiwa

However, a brawl sparks up between Iemon and Yotsuya and the latter is killed by Iemon. A passing low life criminal- Naosuke witnesses this murder and offers Iemon to help hide the body and the latter thereafter reveals that he has eyes for Oiwas’ sister Osode who was already married to another man named Yomoshichi. Later on as the story progresses Naosuke is seen at a local brothel making romantic advances towards Osude when the latters husband arrives on spot along with the brothels’ owner Takuetsu. They both drive out Naosuke out of the brothel, a furious Naosuke kills his former master mistaking him for Yomoshichi. It is at this point when Iemon and Naosuke meet and they together convince both the sisters- Oiwa and Osode that they will avenge their dead fathers soul and they both marry the respective sisters.

Years pass and Iemon and Oiwa together has a newborn son, however Iemon is not happy with his marriage because of they poverty conditions they were living in.

In the next part of the story Oume, the daughter of Ito Kihei, a rich doctor falls in love with Iemon. But Oume is apprehensive of the fact that she is not as beautiful as Oiwa is and therefore Iemon may not become her husband, therefore to make the marriage successful Oumes’ family decides to disfigure Oiwas’ face by sending her poison disguised as a face cream. Not long after Oiwa applies the face cream Iemon is horrified at her wife’s disfigured face and tells her he can no longer be with her and tells Takuetsu to take advantage of her, however Takuetsu cannot bring himself to do such an act instead shows a reflection of Oiwas face to her- horrified at her disfigured face she rushes towards the door with a sword in her hands however as Takuetsu tries to stop her she accidentally pinches her throat with the sword and she bleeds to death clutching onto her newborn son.

Later on, we see that Iemon is set to marry Oume, however Oiwas unsatiated ghost convinces her former husband to annihilate Oume and her grandfather on their wedding night- the remaining members of Kihei family are similarly murdered by Iemon.

On the other hand as Naosuke persuades Osude for their marital union however the latter is hardly interested in it, and it is at this point of time Osudes husband appears and accuses her of adultery. Osude being unable to bear the weight of her sins convinces both the men to murder her and leaves Naosuke a farewell note that she infact was his younger sister. Being unable to bear this shame and for killing his former master Naosuke commits suicide.

A fear stricken Iemon haunted by the ghost of his former wife runs away to a deserted mountain retreat, where he descends into a state of mental instability very rapidly.

Lastly Yomoshichi finds Iemon in his desperate state and gives him an honorary ending.

Present Day Scenario

Youtsuya is an actual place in Tokyo, Japan. The Oiwa Inari Shrine Temple is most closely associated with the tale of Yousuya Kaidan- it is believed that this is the place where Oiwa Iemon used to come and pray when she was alive.

While Oiwa is buried at Myogo ji temple in Sugamo, however locals believe that the Inari Shrine Temple has close associations with the vengeful spirit of Oiwa

Conclusion

This folk-lore was much popular among the Japanese to keep people away from such marital crimes especially in the Buddhist culture.

The ghost of Oiwa is a traditional Onryo ghost dressed in her burial white kimono and long ragged hair, one side of her face drooping which was the effect of the poison and her receding hairline. She has a strong thirst for revenge which allows her to return to Earth and seek her retribution towards her husband Iemon.

This story is also termed as the story of the ‘Lantern Ghost” because it is visualized that the ghost of Oiwa emerges from every lantern which lit up Iemon’s way when he was on the run.