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Iyaya (Negaya)

ee-YAH-yah

Iyaya (Negaya)

Iyaya (Negaya)

Their soul is listening — speak, and they will answer.

Basic Description

A yokai depicted by the Edo-period painter Toriyama Sekien in Konjaku Hyakki Shūi. Shown as a beauty from behind, yet the reflection on the water reveals a deeply wrinkled old face. Sekien notes he modeled its name “Iyaya” after the Chinese tale of the insect called “Guai zai” (“strange!”), rendering it as 否哉; no concrete traits are described. Later sources mention it under names like Iyami or Ijiami, but its existence in genuine tradition is doubtful.

Folklore & Legends

Beyond Sekien’s book, no reliable early traditions are known. Modern picture books and encyclopedias repeat the visual motif: a young woman seen from behind who turns out to be an old person, or whose reflection shows age. A Sendai setting is sometimes cited, but sources appear literary or embellished rather than oral tradition, and local, verifiable accounts are scarce. Name variants include 否哉, いやミ, and 異爺味.

Maya Calendar Guardian KINs

Displaying the Maya calendar KINs that Iyaya (Negaya) protects.

Detailed Analysis

Character Profile

This section is our own creative profile for storytelling. It is not historical fact or scholarship.

Rarity
Rare

For more detailed information and diagnosis results about 水面に老顔映す美女・否哉, please click here.

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