Fire Cat or Fire Cart? The History of Japan’s Kasha

Overview

Swooping down from the heavens on a fire ball, the Kasha drags the bodies of the dead to the underworld for a life of damnation. Most frequently depicted as a demonic, flaming cat, the kanji for ‘Kasha’ actually translates to “Fire Cart". This episode explores the religious and artistic history of the Kasha and takes a look at the significant role of cats in Japanese culture.