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- Yokai, with their diverse forms and multifaceted origins, are more than mere supernatural entities; they are cultural touchstones that reflect Japan’s deep connection to its past, its reverence for nature, and its creative spirit.
littlebookofjapan.com/articles/the-history-of-yokai/
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- Tengu. Tengu is a legendary yokai that you’d likely have come across whilst exploring Japan. This popular folklore creature is often printed on arts and crafts and is featured in many cultural performances.
- Oni. Arguably one of the most famous yokai in Japan, the Oni is an ogre who is strong, fearsome, and mischievous. They are known to bring bad luck and disaster with them wherever they go.
- Umi-bozu. This sea creature is usually described as having a huge dark head that just appears out of the water. It’s said that when it appears, it will break through any boat that is nearby and kill its passengers.
- Yurei. Yurei are the most typical-looking ghost creatures within the yokai category. They are often depicted as floating white corpses, dressed in a draping kimono, with long black hair.
- Amabie. Amabie, 2003, Kyoto University.
- Tatsu. Tatsu (Dragon) by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 19th Century, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
- Kirin. Kirin by Kikuoka Mitsuyuki, 18th Century, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
- Ningyo. Ningyo (Mermaid) by Tadayoshi, 19th Century, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Japanese yokai in popular culture often includes elements of the cute, comical, the goofy, and the bizarre. Some creatures appear in both Chinese and Japanese folklore as yaoguai and yokai, such as the scaly water shuihu (水虎), wilderness demons denoted as chimeiwangliang (魑魅魍魉), and nine-tailed fox demons (九尾狐).
Mar 15, 2022 · Yōkai are a beloved presence in Japan, from anime like Gegege no Kitarō, Yōkai Watch, and Demon Slayer to the recent fad for the pandemic-busting Amabie. Ghosts and strange creatures exist abroad...
Oct 28, 2022 · Yokai are supernatural creatures of the Japanese folklore, sometimes also considered as specters or demons. They come in various appearances, and can look like animals, humans and even objects. Those who encounter yokai can be affected by their actions negatively as well as positively.
To simply translate yokai as “monster” is to vastly oversimplify their meaning within the culture and history of Japan. Yokai have roots in both Shinto, the native religion of Japan, and Taoist philosophy.
Yōkai, 妖怪, are strange, supernatural creatures and phenomena from Japanese folklore. The word is a combination of the characters 妖 (yō– attractive, bewitching, calamity) and 怪 (kai– mystery, wonder). Over the years, many different English words have been used as translations.
