Split in Japan’s ‘killing stone’ stirs fears of evil fox spirit

AN ANCIENT Japanese rock known as the “Killing Stone” which lies on a desolate volcanic mountainside has broken into two pieces, prompting fear the spirit of an evil fox has been released.

Government officials are reportedly planning to meet and discuss the broken stone, known as Sessho-seki, which is a tourist attraction in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture, just north of Tokyo.

Folklore says the rock contains the power of Tamamo-no-mae, a fox demoness who transformed into a beautiful woman to seduce a 12th-century emperor.

After she was exposed and defeated by a samurai warrior, her body was transformed into the murderous killing stone, reportedly killing anyone who approaches it, according to Japanese mythology. Its dark history has failed to put off countless modern-day tourists from visiting Sessho-seki, with visitors recently expressing their dismay at finding the legendary rock broken into two roughly equal parts.

A resident told media: “I can’t believe that the legendary stone which I’ve seen since I was a child could have split in half like this.”

Despite social media speculation over the ominous release of evil spirits, tourist authorities reportedly believe that the breakage was a natural occurrence, with cracks having slowly appeared on its surface over several years, according to local media.

The Killing Stone has featured in ancient narrative literature and the poetry of haiku master Matsuo Basho as well as plays, films, anime and manga.

Masaharu Sugawara, president of the Nasu Kogen Yumoto Guide Club, a local voluntary tourist information group, told the Yomiuri Shimbun: “It seems to be a natural phenomenon but it’s a shame because it’s a local symbol.”