Obake

**Obake** (お化け), also called as **Bakemono** (化け物), are a type of yōkai, preternatural creatures in Japanese folklore. Their name literally means “*a thing that changes*”, referring to a state of transformation or shapeshifting.

## Characteristics

Obake and can appear as any human they wish, but their eyes are distinct and they are benevolent forms of yōkai, mainly serving as guardians, warriors, tricksters, and sometimes even lovers to humans and mortals in general. Hatsumi and her partner Kenshi are a subspecies of bakemono called ‘Bakeneko’ (obake who can turn into cats) in the Blackbird Universe who appear in the series. Like most other yōkai, their eyes are a deep azure hue with a red sclera, which remains the same regardless of any form they take that involves eyes.

## History

### Before *Blackbird*

Before mankind, an interdimensional portal (or ‘gateway’) opened up and preternatural entities that Ancient Japan called ‘yōkai’ were rife. Religions like Shintō and Japanese Buddhism allowed humans the tools necessary to defend themselves and at one point fight against most yōkai. In the Medieval and Edo periods, bakemono and other yōkai for a long time fought alongside humans against malevolent yōkai before the oni and others like them went into hiding for a time. With the arrival of Christianity and the West, Japan went through irreversible changes and yōkai were no longer in the general public consciousness. Obake, however, still tried to protected humans from malevolent oni and other threats as best they could. In the late 19th century, Lemar Wolfblood was an American who visited Japan and befriended two bakemono named Hatsumi and Kenshi whom he helped fight and win against a band of oni and win. Afterwards, Lemar left to go back to the United States by early 20th century.

Lemar would not come back to Japan until the conclusion of the Pacific War between Japan and the United States. Here, he got met up with his old pals Hatsumi and Kenshi again. After helping them with a mission that resulted in a handful of oni dead, Wolfblood introduced Hatsumi and Kenshi to the Blackbird Organization who were looking to find new cases outside North America, and the two bakemono became one of Blackbird’s oldest allies in the Eastern World. If they ever needed Lemar’s, and i.e. the bureau’s, help in the future, and vice versa.

## Powers and Abilities

* **Shapeshifting**: Bakemono, like all yōkai, can turn, at will, from human into any form like a *hitotsume-kozō* (yōkai who appear as “bald-headed children with one eye in the center of their foreheads”, similar to the cyclops in Greek mythology), an ōnyūdō (yōkai that appear as an “unclear shadow”, a giant, a monk (bōzu), etc.), or even *noppera-bō* (yōkai that appear as humans without a face). For Hatsumi, she is a bakeneko, which .
* **Telekinesis**: Being yōkai, obake are capable of moving objects and people with their minds. Hatsumi, for example, used telekinesis to force a truck to stop so that a wondering old man would not get hit by accident, though it took everything she got and she was tired afterwards.
* **Superhuman Strength**: Despite being female, Hatsumi was able to at least match a kitsune and managed to hold it in a chokehold long enough for Lemar, Hannah, and Cody to finish it off using magic.
* **Superhuman Speed and Reflexes**: Obake can move faster than the mortal eye can perceive. Hatsumi was able to move fast enough to be a blue blur from Hannah’s perspective. Cody Harris noted her reflexes matching that of a seasoned demon hunter (specifically, a homo magi).
* **Hand-to-Hand Combat**: Bakemono are the best hand-to-hand combatants and weapon specialists in the yōkai world, and are revered as such. Hatsumi, for example, uses a tantō along with a tachi along with traditional grappling techniques to press for the advantage of the Kitsune in *Episode I*. Against Satsuma, Hatsumi was able to match the yōkai blow-for-blow before he overwhelmed her using his superior strength and speed, necessitating Lemar to save her at the last second before she could be killed.

## Weaknesses

### Overexertion

Obake have less stamina than most other yōkai. As a result, preternatural powers and abilities use up a lot of energy. Therefore, obake only decide to use their more supernatural capabilities as a last resort, and concentrate on developing and mastering hand-to-hand combat and weaponry skills.

### Shintō and preternatural weaponry

Weaponry blessed by Shintō priests or shrine maidens, or ones made from the yōkai extradimensional realm can harm and even kill obake.

## Trivia

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## Works Cited

* Wikipedia contributors. “Obake.” *Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia*. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 5 May. 2021. Web. 9 May. 2021. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obake>.
* “Obake.” *Supernatural Wiki*, FANDOM Powered by Wikia, <https://supernatural.fandom.com/wiki/Obake>.
* *Superpower Wiki*, Fandom Powered by Wikia, Web. <https://powerlisting.fandom.com/wiki/Bakeneko\_Physiology>. Accessed 9 May 2021.