This piece is titled “Kijimuna (Okinawa Fairy)” from my Inkblot design series.

In Okinawa, there’s a kind of ubiquitous sprite or goblin known as kijimuna, though in the northern area it is called sema or bunagaya which means “a living thing with a large head.” Most all of the stories describe the creature as a little boy or girl of three or four years old with a red face and red hair living in the hollow of big old trees such as the banyan tree (called gajimaru in Okinawa).

The kijimuna is said to like fishing, but it dislikes octopus. It also has a penchant for eating the left eye of any fish it catches. Sometimes it carries along a flame or firebrand while walking through the forested foot of the hills and mountains or along the beach. (That wandering light is called kijimunabi “kijimuna firebrand/torch”). Also it has been known to approach a sleeping person, and to press itself on the person’s chest making it impossible for the person to get up. Being mysteriously tied down and immobilized like that is called kanashibari in mainland Japan. There are stories of persons who managed to get on good terms with the kijimuna and as a consequence became rich. But when the relationship went sour, the person ended up chasing away the kijimuna by throwing octopus at it. But recently there are few reports of kijimuna being encountered. Nonetheless, someone has built a kind of observatory for the sole purpose of seeing kijimuna.

When Kijimuna come out from the thier trees in the evening, they sometimes attack people. They cover the person with their bodies. Women usually get covered by male Kijimuna. It is unusual for a man to be covered by a female Kijimuna. A person who is attacked by a Kijimuna can’t move or breath.

Kijimunas appear to be about six years old, These are found all over Okinawa, a Kijimuna can stand between one and four feet tall. People in Ogimi and Kunigami village, Okinawa, say that Kijimuna are fairies. One of the Kijimuna’s favorite stomping grounds is Ginoza Village where, it is beleived, a famous Kijimuna legend originated. Kijimunas are known to be mischievous and do naughty things. Have you ever had the experience where You cannot sleep or have a bad dream? Many Okinawans beleive it is because the Kijimunas sneak into their bedrooms and jump on their chests. Kijimuna is a good fisherman. IF a person becomes Kijimuna’s friend,it takes that person on it’s back and flies over the mountains and the sea. Kijimuna hates it when humans break wind. If a person breaks wind on Kijimuna’s back,he or she is thrown off, over the mountains and the sea, and their skin is sprayed with poison.