Katawaguruma is considered the female counterpart to the yōkai Wanyudo. She is typically depicted as a naked, tormented woman riding a single flaming ox-cart wheel, condemned to eternal suffering and burning pain.

Scholars believe Sekien’s depiction of Wanyūdō was influenced by earlier accounts of the Katawaguruma recorded in Shokoku Hyakumonogatari (1677), based on similarities in form and theme. Although Sekien later illustrated Katawaguruma and Wanyūdō as separate yōkai, they are thought to originate from the same legend, which gradually split into two distinct figures. Early illustrations varied, sometimes showing a human face embedded in a wheel and other times a woman riding the wheel. While Wanyūdō came to be viewed as male, Katawaguruma was later established as female, a distinction that became common by the mid-18th century.

A 17th-century tale from present-day Shiga tells of a katawaguruma who punished a woman for spying on her by abducting her child, warning that the mother should have been watching her child instead. Overcome with guilt, the woman publicly confessed her fault through poetry and urged others to be more vigilant. Moved by the woman’s remorse, the katawaguruma returned the child unharmed and never appeared in the village again.

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

Some notable appearances are listed below:

* Shokoku Hyakumonogatari (1677)
* Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki (1779)
* Shokoku Rijindan (1843)

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wany%C5%ABd%C5%8D#Identity_with_Katawaguruma Wikipedia]
*[https://myths-in-media.fandom.com/wiki/Katawaguruma Myths in Media Wiki]
*[https://yokai.com/katawaguruma/?srsltid=AfmBOoou3lkxSSRCTVNU-e_Ylgnf9Ykgeri7DOwz-d9hrEUQQMpYhTTm Yokai.com]
Category:Folklore Characters
Category:Japanese Characters
Category:Yōkai
Category:Female Characters
Category:Monster Characters
Category:Fire Characters
Category:Literary Characters
Category:Manga / Anime Characters
Category:Video Game Characters
Category:Karuma and the Falling Moon Characters
Category:High School DxD Characters
Category:Tower of Saviors Characters
Category:Otogi Secret Spirit Agents Characters
Category:Destiny of Spirits Characters
Category:Icchibanketsu Characters
Category:Unknown Creator
Category:Unknown Debuts