Tales of Old Japan - Maybe You Like It

The Wakadoshiyôri (or 2d council) were Torii Wakasa no Kami,
Tsuchiya Dewa no Kami, and Itakura Naizen no Sho.
The belief in ghosts appears to be as universal as that in the immortality
of the soul, upon which it depends. Both in China and Japan the departed
spirit is invested with the power of revisiting the earth, and, in a
visible form, tormenting its enemies and haunting those places where the
perishable part of it mourned and suffered. Haunted houses are slow to
find tenants, for ghosts almost always come with revengeful intent; indeed,
the owners of such houses will almost pay men to live in them,
such is the dread which they inspire, and the anxiety to blot out the
stigma.
One cold winter's night at Yedo, as I was sitting, with a few Japanese
friends, huddled round the imperfect heat of a brazier of charcoal, the
conversation turned upon the story of Sôgorô and upon ghostly apparitions
in general. Many a weird tale was told that evening, and I noted
down the three or four which follow, for the truth of which the narrators
vouched with the utmost confidence.
About ten years ago there lived a fishmonger, named Zenroku, in the
Mikawa-street, at Kanda, in Yedo. He was a poor man, living with his
wife and one little boy. His wife fell sick and died, so he engaged an old
woman to look after his boy while he himself went out to sell his fish. It
happened, one day, that he and the other hucksters of his guild were
gambling; and this coming to the ears of the authorities, they were all
thrown into prison. Although their offence was in itself a light one, still
they were kept for some time in durance while the matter was being investigated;
and Zenroku, owing to the damp and foul air of the prison,
fell sick with fever. His little child, in the meantime, had been handed
over by the authorities to the charge of the petty officers of the ward to
which his father belonged, and was being well cared for; for Zenroku
was known to be an honest fellow, and his fate excited much compassion.
One night Zenroku, pale and emaciated, entered the house in
which his boy was living; and all the people joyfully congratulated him
on his escape from jail. "Why, we heard that you were sick in prison.
This is, indeed, a joyful return." Then Zenroku thanked those who had
taken care of the child, saying that he had returned secretly by the favour
of his jailers that night; but that on the following day his offence would
be remitted, and he should be able to take possession of his house again
publicly. For that night, he must return to the prison. With this he
begged those present to continue their good offices to his babe; and, with
a sad and reluctant expression of countenance, he left the house. On the
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