A spirit formed from the regrets of a woman who died in childbirth, said to appear along night roads, crossroads, and riverbanks. Early modern tales and illustrated books depict her with blood soaking her lower body, cradling a baby and asking passersby to mind the child. Outcomes vary: the helper discovers they held a stone or Jizo statue, receives great strength or wealth as recompense, or suffers misfortune such as being bitten by the infant. Regional variants include Fukushima’s “Obo,” where distracting her with a strip of cloth is advised, and Kyushu’s “Ugume,” whose true nature is revealed at dawn. Edo scholars compared her with nocturnal bird-like portents in Chinese records and reasoned that the qi of those who die in childbirth becomes a yokai. Temple and shrine legends tell of salvation through nembutsu or daimoku, linking her to prayers for childrearing and safe delivery. Ubume is both feared and revered, a spiritual figure embodying a mother’s enduring love.