Kitsune no yomeiri

The kitsune no yomeiri (狐の嫁入り, "the fox's wedding") is a term or metaphor for certain natural phenomena, or a folk belief regarding a supernatural event, in Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.[1] The term "kitsune no yomeiri" can refer to several things: atmospheric ghost lights, in which it appears as if paper lanterns from a wedding procession are floating through the dark; sunshowers; or various other phenomena that may resemble wedding processions and are referenced in classical Japanese kaidan, essays, and legends. The kitsune no yomeiri is always closely related to foxes, or kitsune, who often play tricks on humans in Japanese legend; various Shinto rituals and festive rites relating to the kitsune no yomeiri have been developed in various parts of Japan.

  1. ^ 村上 2005, p. 117