Ghosts in the west are generally uniformed spectral figures that appear translucent and either amorphous and smoke-like or as anthropomorphic figures of varying detail. But in Japan, the traditional Yurei ghost comes with very specific characteristics, most commonly today portrayed in theater and film but also in folklore.
These figures often are attached to tragic tales of lost love, vengeance, tragedy, and mystery. To spot a Yurei there are very specific characteristics to look for according to contemporary literature. The figures are most commonly seen wearing pure white flowing gowns or robes.
It's common to see a Yurei wearing a 'katabira' or a 'kyokatabira' as they wander through the last moments of their lives once again. Katabiras and Kyokatabiras are white flowing gowns with insignias drawn upon them.
These are said to symbolize the purity of the spirit and death. Another thing to keep an eye out for with Yurei is signature long eerie hair that betrays some conflict in the past by being unkempt and disheveled. Long tangled knots of hair may indicate the person has died as women traditionally wore their hair up, letting it down for only certain occasions such as sleep or burial.
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