Okiku mushi are caterpillar-like yōkai with the torso of a human woman. They are called Okiku mushi because it is believed they are born from the vengeance of Okiku’s ghost, from the story Banchō sarayashiki.

In 1795, old wells in Japan suffered from an infestation of byasa larvae that became known as the "Okiku insect" (お菊虫, okiku mushi). This larva, covered with thin threads making it look as though it had been bound, was widely believed to be a reincarnation of Okiku. The Ningyo Joruri version is set in Himeji Castle, a popular tourist attraction at the castle is Okiku-Ido, or Okiku's Well. Traditionally, this is where the hapless maid's body was thrown after being killed by Tetsuzan. Although the castle is closed at night, it is said that her ghost still rises nightly from the well, and counts to nine before shrieking and returning.

In the folk version of the tale, there was a beautiful dishwashing servant named Okiku who worked at Himeji Castle. Her master attempted to make her his lover but she rejected him each time. He grew impatient and wanted to trick her into becoming his, so he hid one of ten precious dishes that she was responsible for. When he called for her, he told her one of the plates was missing. In a frenzy, she counted and recounted the nine plates many times. The samurai offers to overlook the matter if she finally becomes his lover, but she rejects him again. Enraged, Aoyama has his servants beat her, tie her up and suspend her above a well. He tortures Okiku before again demanding that she marry him. Aoyama then slashes her with his sword and drops her body into the well.

Okiku becomes a vengeful spirit (Onryo) who torments her murderer by counting to nine and then making a terrible shriek to represent the missing tenth plate – or perhaps she had tormented herself and was still trying to find the tenth plate but cried out in agony when she never could. In some versions of the story, this torment continued until an exorcist or neighbor shouted "ten" in a loud voice at the end of her count. Her ghost, finally relieved that someone had found the plate for her, haunted the samurai no more.

All published appearances of Okiku Mushi from before January 1, )-(95)}} are public domain in the US.

Some notable appearances are listed below:

* Banchō Sarayashiki (1741) - Bunraku play
* Banchō Sarayashiki (1824) - Kabuki play
* Minoriyoshi Kogane no Kikuzuki (1850)
* Banchō Sarayashiki (1916)

* Ehon Hyaku Monogatari

* One Hundred Ghost Stories - ukiyo-e woodblock prints

* The Ring is a horror-film franchise featuring Sadako (or Samara). Sadako is a girl that died in a well and seeks revenge by making a haunted videotape and killing whoever views it. Her appearance and traits are based on the Okiku legend. Sadako is depicted as meeting Okiku in the manga series Sadako at the End of the World.

*[https://myths-in-media.fandom.com/wiki/Okiku_mushi Myths in Media Wiki]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banch%C5%8D_Sarayashiki#Influences_on_Japanese_culture Wikipedia]
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