A legendary stone, believed to have housed a demon for nearly 1,000 years, breaks in two

Sessho-seki, or “killing stone”, is a legendary stone found on the island of Honshu in Japan. For nearly 1,000 years, it has been inhabited by an evil spirit, that of a nine-tailed fox named Tamamo-no-mae. Long ago, this demon is said to have taken on the human form of a beautiful woman in order to participate in a plot to kill Emperor Toba, who reigned from 1107 to 1123, reveals Geo. The latter was eventually killed by the warrior Miura-Nosuke.

Since then, legend has it that this “deadly stone” spits poisonous gases and that anyone who dares to touch it risks being killed instantly. Since 1957, the stone has been registered as a “local historic site”, according to The Guardian.

Japanese killing stone that was rumored to hold a 9 tailed Fox demon has been broken. My guess is the demon is going to look around at 2022 and want to go back into the rock for another millennium. https://t.co/Yy4oxkjOhh

— John (@johnfaltin) March 7, 2022

What future for this “evil” stone?

However. Recently, Sessho-seki broke in two. This is enough to worry many inhabitants, and even Internet users, who firmly believe in the legend. For many, parting from the stone would mean the release of the evil spirit of Tamamo-no-mae. “I feel like I saw something that shouldn’t be seen,” wrote one user on Twitter. “I guess the demon will look around in 2022 and want to go back to the rock for another millennium,” reacted another Internet user with humor.

Faced with this concern, the local media were reassuring. They explain that it is only the result of the natural erosion of the stone, which would have started several years ago already. Local and national government officials have begun discussions to determine the future of this symbolic stone. Many would want it to be restored and returned to its original form.