The Yokai of Japan
Yokai is an umbrella term for the supernatural creatures of Japan. I find them endlessly fascinating and much of what I share on this blog is yokai related. In this post I will provide a quick introduction to some of the most well-known yokai, as well as a linked index to all the yokai posts on this site. I've also included a selection of artwork featuring yokai, and some external links to information that may be of interest to those wanting to learn more.
The Yokai
Yokai is a difficult term to translate into English and you will sometimes see it as demon, monster or goblin. However, yokai is much broader than that and encompass all manner of supernatural phenomena. You will see in the artworks both above and below the represention of what is known as the Night Parade of 100 Demons. If you are curious about this, I've written about it here.
Kitsune
Foxes in Japan are known as kitsune and they play a significant role in folklore. They manifest in a range of forms from evil shape-shifting yokai who trick helpless victims, to heavenly messengers and servants of the kami Inari. In Japanese folklore the role of kitsune is underpinned by a belief that the fox has an extraordinarily long life span and is incredibly intelligent.
Many tales of kitsune involve them reaching advanced age and developing the ability to transform into a supernatural spirit, or yokai. Often they grow additional tails, and the nine-tailed fox features prominently. If you visit Japan you will see that many shrines are dedicated to the deity Inari and will have representation of kitsune, usually in the form of stone statues.
Tanuki
Tanuki are real animals and are often referred to in the west as racoon dogs. They also play a significant part in Japanese folklore and have magical shape-shifting abilities. Once feared, they are now more likely to be seen in statue form outside restaurants as a sign of good fortune.
Along with kitsune, tanuki are the tricksters of Japanese folklore. In many cases, when supernatural phenomena cannot be explained, the tanuki is usually blamed. I have written more about tanuki along with their representations in are at the link below.
Kaibyo (Supernatural cats)
Japan seems to be a nation of cat-lovers and when I visited I seemed to see them everywhere, from cat cafes to Hello Kitty, the country seems to be besotted by felines. In folklore, cats are not always so lovable, as you will discover in the tales of bakeneko and nekomata.
My Tengu post on this blog
Kappa
Kappa are an example of a yokai that has been transformed in modern times. Today kappa appear as cute and lovable, often seen as stickers or soft toys, but in folklore it's a very different story. These vicious water-dwelling creatures will tear out your insides if you give them half a chance.
Like may water-dwelling monsters in folklore around the world, the kappa may have been a way of keeping children safe near lakes and rivers. If you encounter a kappa it is a good idea to know how to avoid an attack and I've written more about this in my kappa post.
Yama Uba
Yama uba is a mountain witch in Japanese folklore. Some believe the tales arose during a time when during food shortages the oldest family members were abandoned in the mountains and left to die. The haunting spirits of the old women became yama uba.
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| Night Parade of 100 Demons (Hyakki Yagyo) - Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 1865. |
The Yokai
Yokai is a difficult term to translate into English and you will sometimes see it as demon, monster or goblin. However, yokai is much broader than that and encompass all manner of supernatural phenomena. You will see in the artworks both above and below the represention of what is known as the Night Parade of 100 Demons. If you are curious about this, I've written about it here.
 |
| 'Night Procession of the Hundred Demons (Hyakki Yagyo)' - Hiroharu Itaya, ca. 1860. |
Kitsune
Foxes in Japan are known as kitsune and they play a significant role in folklore. They manifest in a range of forms from evil shape-shifting yokai who trick helpless victims, to heavenly messengers and servants of the kami Inari. In Japanese folklore the role of kitsune is underpinned by a belief that the fox has an extraordinarily long life span and is incredibly intelligent.
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| 'The Fox Demon' - Gekko Ogata, 1893. |
Many tales of kitsune involve them reaching advanced age and developing the ability to transform into a supernatural spirit, or yokai. Often they grow additional tails, and the nine-tailed fox features prominently. If you visit Japan you will see that many shrines are dedicated to the deity Inari and will have representation of kitsune, usually in the form of stone statues.
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| Tea Fox Illustrations |
Tanuki
Tanuki are real animals and are often referred to in the west as racoon dogs. They also play a significant part in Japanese folklore and have magical shape-shifting abilities. Once feared, they are now more likely to be seen in statue form outside restaurants as a sign of good fortune.
Along with kitsune, tanuki are the tricksters of Japanese folklore. In many cases, when supernatural phenomena cannot be explained, the tanuki is usually blamed. I have written more about tanuki along with their representations in are at the link below.
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| Tanuki by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 1881. |
Kaibyo (Supernatural cats)
Japan seems to be a nation of cat-lovers and when I visited I seemed to see them everywhere, from cat cafes to Hello Kitty, the country seems to be besotted by felines. In folklore, cats are not always so lovable, as you will discover in the tales of bakeneko and nekomata.
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| 'Nekomata' - Sawaki Suushi |
As with kitsune, cats are believed to gain supernatural powers as they age and there is always a possibility that they will transform into a yokai. You can read more about cats as yokai at the links below.
My post about Cat Witches of Japan on this blog
Tengu
Another yokai that has made its way into popular culture is the tengu. Sometimes considered a yokai or demon, and other times revered as a demi-god, they are fascinating creatures, but be sure to keep your distance. There are two types of tengu, the karasu or crow tengu and the hanadaka or long-nosed tengu.
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| 'Nekomata' - Utagawa Kunisada, 1847. |
Tengu
Another yokai that has made its way into popular culture is the tengu. Sometimes considered a yokai or demon, and other times revered as a demi-god, they are fascinating creatures, but be sure to keep your distance. There are two types of tengu, the karasu or crow tengu and the hanadaka or long-nosed tengu.
In folklore tengu take can appear as vicious monsters but there are also tales of them training warriors in martial arts and being associated with Buddhist sects. They are known to inhabit forests and mountainous areas.
My Tengu post on this blog
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| Tengu - Matthew Meyer (yokai.com) |
Kappa
Kappa are an example of a yokai that has been transformed in modern times. Today kappa appear as cute and lovable, often seen as stickers or soft toys, but in folklore it's a very different story. These vicious water-dwelling creatures will tear out your insides if you give them half a chance.
 |
| 'An Illustrated Guide to Twelve Types of Kappa' - ca.1850. |
Like may water-dwelling monsters in folklore around the world, the kappa may have been a way of keeping children safe near lakes and rivers. If you encounter a kappa it is a good idea to know how to avoid an attack and I've written more about this in my kappa post.
Yama Uba
Yama uba is a mountain witch in Japanese folklore. Some believe the tales arose during a time when during food shortages the oldest family members were abandoned in the mountains and left to die. The haunting spirits of the old women became yama uba.
My Yama Uba post on this blog
Tsukumogami
In Japanese folklore there is a common theme that as things age they develop supernatural powers. This is also the case for household objects which, after dutifully serving their owners for 100 years, can animate and become yokai.
Yurei (Ghosts)
Yurei are Japanese ghosts. Sometimes these spirits are known as onryo, or vengeful ghosts, and they return seeking revenge for a wrongful death.
Tsukumogami
In Japanese folklore there is a common theme that as things age they develop supernatural powers. This is also the case for household objects which, after dutifully serving their owners for 100 years, can animate and become yokai.
Yurei (Ghosts)
Yurei are Japanese ghosts. Sometimes these spirits are known as onryo, or vengeful ghosts, and they return seeking revenge for a wrongful death.
Index of Yokai Posts on This Site
It is impossible to accurately categorise all yokai, and some may actually belong under several different headings, but for simplicity I've grouped them as best I can just as a starting point. If you would prefer an alphabetical list, you will find this on the Index page.
Animal Yokai
Yokai as Supernatural Creatures or Monsters
Oni - Japanese demons
Yokai in the form of Humans or Ghosts Child Yokai (tofu kozu, amefuri kozo, zashiki warashi)
Yokai as Strange Phenomena
Trees in Japanese Folklore (including kodama, ninmenju, jubokko, tsubaki, hoko, bashonosei, tengu daoshi, akateko)
Yokai as Objects (Tsukumogami)
Musical Yokai (biwa bokuboku, koto furunushi)
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| 'Dreaming of the Earth-Spider with Demons (ghost army)' - Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1843. |
Yokai on Bluesky
I regularly post about yokai on Bluesky. To get a quick taste of yokai you can check my latest posts here.
I regularly post about yokai on Bluesky. To get a quick taste of yokai you can check my latest posts here.
For More Information
The best place on the Internet to start learning more about yokai is yokai.com.
This phenomenal website has information and art by Matthew Meyer, also
known as 'The Yokai Guy.' You can also visit Matthew at matthewmeyer.net and he has several books available.
If you want books about yokai, I would highly recommend The Book of Yokai by Michael Dylan Foster, or for lighter reading Yokai Attack by Hiroko Yoda & Matt Alt.
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| 'Shoki Riding on a Tiger Chasing Demons Away' - Kawanabe Kyosai, 1887 |
If you'd like to just browse the most recent yokai posts on this site, you can do so here.
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| 'The Ghost of Kasane' - Utagawa Kunisada, 1852. |
Posts
Fascinating and thorough article; an excellent read.
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