On the Trail of Komayō

In chess bars and internet cafés across the Kansai region, a strange urban legend has been circulating for several years: that of Komayō, a mysterious player who appears on full moon nights.

Witnesses typically describe her as a woman of extraordinary beauty, dressed in a distinctive midnight blue kimono. She challenges her victims to games of ōgi, a game blending elements of Western and Eastern chess.

The legend clearly draws inspiration from traditional Japanese folklore while adapting it to the modern urban context. It incorporates classic elements of kaidan: the supernatural beautiful woman, the game as an instrument of deadly seduction, and the transformation of victims into yūrei.

Some accounts trace Komayō's origins back to the Kamakura era, though historical sources are lacking to confirm this hypothesis. Her story is said to have been passed down through the centuries via Japanese oral tradition.

Modern versions of the legend vary depending on the storyteller, but maintain recurring elements: the midnight blue kimono, the enchanting perfume, and especially the mysterious sleep that overtakes players during the games.

While this story likely reflects contemporary anxieties more than actual events, it illustrates how Japanese folklore continues to evolve and reinvent itself in modern Japan.