Hitodama

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Hitodama (人魂) is the term for a ghost-like creature in Japanese mythology. It is normally depicted as a floating blue or green fireball, and it is said that it likes to play tricks. Another term used in Japan is Onibi (鬼火, おにび). In Chinese it is also 鬼火 (Cantonese: Gwäe Fo, Pinying: Guǐ huǒ)

The origin of the legend of the Hitodama comes from fluorescent gases that can sometimes be seen above human graves. "Hito" is Japanese for "human", "dama" means "soul". Hitodama is the Japanese counterpart to the English "Will o' the wisp".

Hitodama are said to live near graveyards and in dark forests during the summer. They are usually harmless, and are drawn to people with strong psychic power. However, sometimes their behavior is much the same of a Will o' the wisp, and they have been known to lead travelers off the path and get them lost. It is possibly far less malicious, though, given that in some legends, the Will o' the wisp is said to lead travelers to the gates of hell.

[edit] Hitodama in popular culture

In Okami, the Playstation 2 video game, hitodama can be seen floating over gravestones at night.
Hitodama is an ally of the main character Okinu(おキヌ/氷室キヌ) in the GS Mikami Anime and Manga.
The Pokémon Gastly is based on the Hitodama.
The Poes in The Legend of Zelda are based on hitodama.
The characters Youmu Konpaku and Yuyuko Saigyouji in the Touhou Project are accompianied by hitodama. Youmu is described as a half-ghost, with her ghostly half residing outside of her human body and taking the shape of a large hitodama; whereas Yuyuko, a ghost princess, is usually seen with several small hitodama.
In anime, hitodama appear floating near the character when he feels depressed, scares other characters with his dark attitude or accompanying a ghost character. The latter is most likely based on traditional Japanese ukiyoe portraits depicting yurei
Podoboo, lava bubbles from Mario games, are based on hitodama.
Hitodama are also commonly featured as minor enemies in many Japanese video games that have horror, supernatural and folkloric themes, i.e. Pocky & Rocky, Ganbare Goemon, etc.
A phenomenon known as Pyreflies in the video game Final Fantasy X display similar characteristics to Hitodama.
An item on the anime-roleplaying forum website Gaia Online released in October 2006 enables a member's avatar to be surrounded by flames resembling Hitodama.
In the Shaman King series, some spirits appear sometimes in a Hitodama-like form, most notably Amidamaru.
The monster Horong and Gajomart in Ragnarok Online are based on hitodama.
The elemental Lumina/Wisp from the video game series Secret of Mana resembles a hitodama. Hitodama is also a boss fought in the Underworld in Legend of Mana.