Oshirasama (Japanese: おしら様, おしらさま, お白様, オシラ様, or オシラサマ, Hepburn: oshira-sama) is a tutelary deity of the home in Japanese folklore.[1] It is believed that when oshirasama is in a person's home, one cannot eat meat and only women are allowed to touch it.[2]
The festival day for Oshirasama is called meinichi (命日, or a death anniversary). It is held on the 16th day of the first, third, and ninth Japanese lunar calendar.
According legend Oshirasama was born from the love between a woman and horse.[3]
See main article: Shinto in popular culture. The deity is also a character for the film Spirited Away.[4] In the American version of the film the character is called Radish Spirit.[5]