KKI_007 KAJA KUMARI IMEDEMAAL_ TERE, KOOL! _ MEEZ 1.09.2026
Item #
31702
Title
Messenger Girl - Kabuki
Reserve
$60
Sold
$70 - 4/13/2008
The Okiku ghost story (Bancho Sarayashiki) is one of Japan’s most famous ghost tales. Originating in the Edo period, it tells of a maid falsely accused of breaking valuable plates, killed, and thrown into a well. Her spirit's nightly counting and wailing became a popular theme in kabuki theater and Japanese woodblock prints.
Bancho Sarayashiki
In the Kabuki play Bancho Sarayashiki ("The Dish Mansion at Bancho"), Okiku works as a maid in the household of the samurai Tessan Aoyama. After rejecting repeated advances from Aoyama, the samurai hides one of ten valuable Dutch plates and accuses Okiku of theft. He threatens to exonerate her only if she becomes his mistress. In despair, Okiku throws herself into a well and drowns.
Each night, her ghost rises from the well, counting the plates aloud — "one" through "nine" — then breaking into anguished wails. The nightly hauntings eventually drive Aoyama to madness.
Different Versions of the Okiku Ghost Story
The core of the legend remains consistent: a ghostly figure emerges from a well, counts to nine, and ends with heart-rending sobs. Different regional and literary versions, however, vary in cause and resolution.
In one version, Okiku accidentally breaks a plate and is killed by her master, who disposes of her body in the well.
In another, Aoyama's wife breaks a plate and hides the evidence by throwing it into the well, falsely accusing Okiku. The wife is then killed by her husband, who believes her guilty of treachery.
A more unusual ending involves a friend of the Aoyama family. When Okiku counts to nine during her haunting, he shouts "ten," breaking the pattern. According to the tale, the ghost never appears again.
The Himeji Castle Version
A famous site linked to the story is Himeji Castle, where a well known as Okiku's Well attracts visitors. In this version, Okiku serves Aoyama, a retainer plotting against his lord. She overhears the scheme and warns her lover, a loyal samurai, foiling the plot.
In revenge, Aoyama accuses her of stealing one of ten valuable dishes. He tortures and kills her, then throws her body into the well.
Other sites claim to be the location of Okiku's death, including the garden of the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, built on land once owned by the Aoyama family. These competing claims highlight how the tale has spread and evolved.
All versions share a central theme — the unjust and brutal treatment of a young woman from the lower classes. Unlike the ghost story of Yotsuya, where vengeance is key, retribution is rare in the Okiku legend.
Yoshitoshi's Depiction – Shinkei Sanju-roku Kai Sen
Among ukiyo-e artists, Yoshitoshi Tsukioka (1839–1892) is known for his supernatural subjects. Yoshitoshi believed in ghosts and claimed personal encounters with spirits.
His print The Ghost of Okiku at the Dish Mansion is part of the series Shinkei Sanju-roku Kai Sen ("Thirty-six New Ghosts"). Published from 1889 to 1892, the series was among Yoshitoshi's last works, along with One Hundred Aspects of the Moon. English translations of the title include New Selection of 36 Apparitions and Thirty-six New Ghosts.
In his final years, Yoshitoshi drew heavily from Japan's cultural past, urging his audience not to abandon traditional values during the rapid Westernization of the Meiji period.
Ghost Story of Okiku – Artelino Archive
Below is a selection of Japanese woodblock prints that depict the haunting story of Okiku. These artworks reflect how the legend has inspired generations of artists and remains one of Japan's best-known ghost tales.
Artelino clients with an active purchase history and consignors have access to a publicly visible archive of 78,160 sold items - predominantly Japanese prints - with detailed descriptions, high-resolution images, and final auction prices.
For more information about the Artelino archive and how to get access, please see our archive guide.
Item #
31702
Title
Messenger Girl - Kabuki
Reserve
$60
Sold
$70 - 4/13/2008
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