Hitodama (人魂, "human soul")[1] are believed in Japanese folklore to be the souls of the newly dead[1], taking form as mysterious fiery apparitions.
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The word Hitodama is a combination of the Japanese words hito, meaning "human", and tama (short for tamashii), meaning "soul" These flames supposedly "appear as pale blue or sometimes green spheres with long tails, and they are believed to be tricksters originating from fluorescent gases that can sometimes be seen above human graves."
A Hitodama is usually said to be found near a "graveyard and in gloomy forest in summer time." They are allegedly sometimes seen "close to a dying person as an apparition of the soul leaving the body before going to the other side</ref name=Hyakki>[2] . Some are said to be seen right before a child is born[3] . Most Hitodama fade away or fall to the ground shortly after being spotted."
Among tricks they are believed to play on people is "leading travelers off track and causing them to become lost." Some Japanese consider the Hitodama to be "a trick of the Kitsune, employing their "fox-fire" (kitsune-bi) to lead travelers astray."
Ghostly fires in Japan may also be called onibi (鬼火, "demon fire") In Chinese they are called guǐ-huǒ (Pinyin) or gwäe-fo (Cantonese).
Hitodama can be produced artificially in a laboratory[4] . In late 20th century, hitodama is believed to be plasma started in air[5] .