Kaika (怪火) is a mysterious phenomenon of the appearance of fire of unknown cause.
There are examples of such kaika around the world such as the onibi, hitodama, will-o'-wisp, etc., and they are seen often in moist climates.[1] They are also sometimes thought to be related to UFOs.[2]
Onibi (鬼火) is kaika
told about in legends in various areas across Japan. Generally,
according to folklore, they are the spirits born from the corpses of
humans and animals, and are also said to be the resent of people that
have become fire and appeared. Also, sometimes the words "will-o'-wisp" or "jack-o'-lantern" are translated into Japanese as "onibi."[1]
A hitodama (Japanese 人魂; meaning “human soul”) is a mythological being from japanese folklore. It is thought to be the wandering soul of a newly deceased and therefore to be some sort of a ghost. Hitodama are commonly described as floating, bluish to greenish
fireballs with a long, hair-thin tail. It is said that they change into
countless tiny black beetles or scatter in pieces of black coal if they touch the ground.
The legends about hitodama are possibly based on fireflies, of which three species are common in Japan: Luciola cruciata (源氏 ホタル, Genji hotaru; meaning „Genji´s firefly“), Luciola lateralis (平家 ホタル, Heike hotaru; meaning "firefly from Heike"), and Colophotia praeusta. All these snail-eating beetles and their larvae are famous for their ability to make special body parts glow (bioluminescence) and make them blink rhythmically. Every year at the Fusa-park in Tokyo the legendary feast Hotarugari (蛍狩り; meaning "firefly catching") is celebrated.
See the list of different types of Kaika by area
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