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Oct 8, 2024 · Japanese mythical creatures can be broadly categorized into three main groups: Yokai: Spirits and supernatural entities that can be either benevolent or malevolent. Yurei: Ghosts and spirits of the dead, often associated with tragedy or unresolved issues.
- 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.
Yōkai are often referred to as Japanese spirits or East Asian ghosts, like the Hanako-san legend or the story of the "Slit-mouthed girl", both of which hail from Japanese legend. The term yōkai can also be interpreted as something strange or unusual.
kitsune, trickster foxes from traditional Japanese folklore. They are a type of yōkai, a class of supernatural creatures with godlike powers, often equated to the English ghoul or demon. Kitsune are noted for their paranormal abilities, particularly metamorphosis.
Monsters, ghosts, fantastic beings, and supernatural phenomena of all sorts haunt the folklore and popular culture of Japan. Broadly labeledyokai,these creature...
- Michael Dylan Foster
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The following is a list of Akuma , Yūrei , Yōkai (spirits), Kami and other legendary creatures that are notable in Japanese folklore and mythology
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This is an illustrated encyclopedia featuring ghosts, monsters, and legendary figures from Japan. All of the entries on this site are based on Japanese sources including books, paintings, scrolls, prints, and oral tradition.
