{"id":85422,"date":"2021-10-07T19:37:47","date_gmt":"2021-10-07T10:37:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=85422"},"modified":"2023-07-10T09:45:00","modified_gmt":"2023-07-10T00:45:00","slug":"yokai-japan-history-legendary-monsters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/yokai-japan-history-legendary-monsters\/","title":{"rendered":"Yokai: Discover the History of Japan&#8217;s Legendary Monsters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Since the beginning of time, people have always tried to find answers or reasons for those situations or phenomena in which it was difficult to apply logic. To explain those things that escaped rational understanding, we&#8217;ve created legends and myths that have lasted for centuries. Stories about characters with extraordinary powers, gods, heroes and monsters. In Japan, many of these stories feature <strong>yokai, supernatural creatures that reside on the borders between the known and the unknown.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"494\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183352\/yokai_04-1024x494.jpg\" alt=\"illustration of a Japanese samurai attacking a giant skeleton yokai\" class=\"wp-image-85746\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183352\/yokai_04-1024x494.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183352\/yokai_04-500x241.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183352\/yokai_04-1536x741.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183352\/yokai_04-2048x988.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183352\/yokai_04-scaled.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Utagawa Kuniyoshi&#8217;s Mitsukuni defies the skeleton specter&nbsp;conjured up by Princess Takiyasha<\/em> (1845\u201346). \u00a9 Trustees of the British Museum<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ht-block-toc  is-style-outline htoc htoc--position-wide toc-list-style-plain\" data-htoc-state=\"expanded\"><span class=\"htoc__title\"><span class=\"ht_toc_title\">Table of Contents<\/span><span class=\"htoc__toggle\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\"><g fill=\"#444\"><path d=\"M15 7H1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1z\"><\/path><path d=\"M15 1H1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1zM15 13H1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1z\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/span><\/span><div class=\"htoc__itemswrap\"><ul class=\"ht_toc_list\"><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-yokai-and-their-origin-in-japan\">Yokai and Their Origin in Japan<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-where-do-japanese-yokai-live-when-do-they-appear\">Where Do Japanese Yokai Live? When Do They Appear?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-the-night-parade-of-100-demons-in-japan\">The Night Parade of 100 Demons in Japan<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-japan-s-most-famous-yokai-creatures-and-monsters\">Japan&#8217;s Most Famous Yokai Creatures and Monsters<\/a><ul class=\"ht_toc_child_list\"><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-oni-japanese-demons\">Oni (\u9b3c): Japanese demons<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-tengu-the-guardians-of-the-mountain\">Tengu (\u5929\u72d7): The Guardians of the Mountain<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-kappa-the-monsters-of-the-rivers\">Kappa (\u6cb3\u7ae5): The Monsters of the Rivers<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-tanuki-the-masters-of-disguise\">Tanuki (\u72f8): The Masters of Disguise<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-tsukumogami-objects-that-come-to-life\">Tsukumogami (\u4ed8\u55aa\u795e): Objects That Come to Life<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-yokai-and-yurei-are-they-monsters-or-ghosts\">Yokai and Yurei: Are They Monsters or Ghosts?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-yokai-in-japan-today\">Yokai in Japan Today<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-yokai-and-their-origin-in-japan\">Yokai and Their Origin in Japan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A yokai is a mysterious phenomenon beyond human understanding that can only be explained as a supernatural entity.<\/strong> They\u2019re part of Japan&#8217;s tradition and culture, particularly rooted in small towns and villages, where they are passed down from generation to generation. These monsters move across the confusing boundaries between reality and fiction, conviction and disbelief, good and evil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"699\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"85748\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183635\/yokai_18-699x1024.jpg\" alt=\"illustration of an umbrella-shaped yokai from japan\" class=\"wp-image-85748\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183635\/yokai_18-699x1024.jpg 699w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183635\/yokai_18-341x500.jpg 341w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183635\/yokai_18-1049x1536.jpg 1049w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183635\/yokai_18.jpg 874w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 699px) 100vw, 699px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>&#8220;<strong>T\u014dfu-koz\u014d<\/strong>&#8221; (Tofu boy) <\/em>\u00a9 <a aria-label=\"University of Oregon  (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/around.uoregon.edu\/devoted-collecting-traditional-japanese-monsters-and-art-miniature\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"ek-link\">University of Oregon <\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"427\" height=\"680\" data-id=\"85747\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183633\/yokai_03.jpg\" alt=\"illustration of a cyclops yokai from japan\" class=\"wp-image-85747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183633\/yokai_03.jpg 427w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183633\/yokai_03-314x500.jpg 314w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 427px) 100vw, 427px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em> Magic Lantern Slides in a Dance of Seven Changes.<\/em> \u00a9 <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/collections.mfa.org\/objects\/215019\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ek-link\">Museum of Fine Arts<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the <em>Kojien <\/em>dictionary (\u5e83\u8f9e\u82d1), one of Japan&#8217;s most prestigious dictionaries, Yokai means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-verse\">\u3010<strong>Yokai<\/strong>\u3011\n1.  A strange creature or phenomenon that cannot be explained by human knowledge\n2. Monster<\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, <strong>when something strange happens and the human mind can not understand it, it was said to have been caused by a yokai.<\/strong> Perhaps this may be difficult to understand today, as we live surrounded by technology and have access to any kind of information in just a few seconds. <strong>Therefore, to understand the origin of yokai, it\u2019s necessary to think about how Japan was like a few centuries ago<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine yourself in the middle of the night, on a dimly lit road in a small town lost in rural Japan. You\u2019re in a time when advanced technology doesn&#8217;t exist and the only news source comes from traders coming in from distant cities and from comments and rumors spreading around the region. It\u2019s a rainy summer night&nbsp;\u2014 so quiet that you can hear your own breathing. Suddenly, you feel a breath of cold air on the back of your neck and something hits your leg, but you turn around and see no one. There is no one else besides you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"704\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"85749\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183950\/yokai_05-704x1024.jpg\" alt=\"japanese woodblock print of a rainy night\" class=\"wp-image-85749\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183950\/yokai_05-704x1024.jpg 704w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183950\/yokai_05-344x500.jpg 344w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183950\/yokai_05.jpg 880w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kawase Hasui, <em>Selection of Views of the Tokaido &#8211; Rainy Night at Maekawa<\/em>  \u00a9 <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.artelino.com\/default.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"ek-link\">Artelino<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"718\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"85750\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183957\/yokai_06-718x1024.jpg\" alt=\"yokai fighting a samurai\" class=\"wp-image-85750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183957\/yokai_06-718x1024.jpg 718w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183957\/yokai_06-351x500.jpg 351w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183957\/yokai_06-1077x1536.jpg 1077w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183957\/yokai_06-1436x2048.jpg 1436w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28183957\/yokai_06-scaled.jpg 898w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 718px) 100vw, 718px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shunbaisai Hokuei,&nbsp;<em>An Imaginary View of Arashi Rikan II as Iemon Confronted by an Image of the Murdered Oiwa on a Broken Lantern,<\/em>&nbsp;1831. \u00a9 <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/art\/collection\/search\/76565\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"ek-link\">The Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s likely nowadays there are some scientific explanations for this phenomenon. But in rural Japan a few hundred years ago, the only way one could deal with such events was to believe in the existence of yokai. <strong>Little by little, these creatures began to become part of the country\u2019s everyday life, tradition and culture<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, the belief in yokai is so deeply rooted in Japanese society that they\u2019re still the protagonists of some unexplained phenomena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-where-do-japanese-yokai-live-when-do-they-appear\">Where Do Japanese Yokai Live? When Do They Appear?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The origin of yokai is rooted in Shinto principles, including <a aria-label=\"animism (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Animism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">animism<\/a> and nature worship<\/strong>. <a href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/difference-temple-shrine-japan\/\" class=\"ek-link\">Shinto is the oldest religion in Japan<\/a>, and its name, <em>Shinto<\/em> (\u795e\u9053) means &#8220;the way of the gods.&#8221; It\u2019s based on the worship of the <strong>gods<\/strong> (<em>kami<\/em> \u795e, in Japanese) and according to its beliefs, <strong>these gods are found everywhere, both in nature and in animate and inanimate beings.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"699\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184145\/yokai_01-1024x699.jpg\" alt=\"illustration of the night parade of the 100 demons\" class=\"wp-image-85751\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184145\/yokai_01-1024x699.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184145\/yokai_01-500x341.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184145\/yokai_01.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Hyakki Yak\u014d (\u767e\u9b3c\u591c\u884c)<\/em> por Kawanabe Ky\u014dsai, British Museum. Image part of the <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" class=\"ek-link ek-link\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Hyakki_Yako.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Public domain<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>For this reason,<strong> yokai are on the border between \u201cthis world\u201d and \u201cthe other world.\u201d<\/strong> Sometimes they reside in natural places that are considered sacred according to Shinto: mountains, forests, and rivers because they prefer to avoid contact with humans and live in isolation. But there are yokai that live in harmony with our world. An example of this is the <strong><em>tsukumogami<\/em><\/strong> (\u4ed8\u55aa\u795e), a type of yokai manifested within tools and typical Japanese items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we mentioned before, yokai move between borders. That&#8217;s why <strong>they like to appear during hours of twilight when you can&#8217;t yet distinguish day from night<\/strong>. They also enjoy grey days, where the sun rays barely filter through the clouds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-the-night-parade-of-100-demons-in-japan\">The Night Parade of 100 Demons in Japan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In Japan, there are numerous legends that speak of <strong>yokai parades<\/strong> through the streets of towns and cities, called <strong><em>Hyakki Yagyo <\/em><\/strong>(\u767e\u9b3c\u591c\u884c &#8211; The Night Parade of 100 Demons). This event usually occurs on warm summer nights and during the <em>Obon<\/em> (\u304a\u76c6), a Buddhist holiday when <a href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/yurei-japanese-ghosts\/\" class=\"ek-link\">the spirits of the dead are believed to visit the homes<\/a> of their living families.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184326\/yokai_16-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"illustration of a yokai night parade in japan\" class=\"wp-image-85752\" width=\"840\" height=\"472\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184326\/yokai_16-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184326\/yokai_16-500x281.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184326\/yokai_16-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184326\/yokai_16.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Ehon saiyuki: hyakki yagyo no zu [The Journey to the West Illustrated: The Night Procession of One Hundred Demons] (triptych)<\/em> \u00a9 <a href=\"http:\/\/kagirohi.art\/\u65e5\u672c\u753b\/\u7389\u5712-\u753b\u672c\u897f\u904a\u8a18\u767e\u9b3c\u591c\u884c\u30ce\u5716\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"ek-link\">Kagirohi Art<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>According to legends, <strong>humans were tricked by the yokai into going out to the streets during those nights.<\/strong> At that time, these terrifying monsters took the opportunity to kill all those curious humans who had come to see the macabre parade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the <em>Shugaisho<\/em> (\u62fe\u82a5\u6284), an ancient encyclopedia of Japan, the <em>Onmy\u014dji <\/em>(\u9670\u967d\u5e2b &#8211; esoteric practitioners and fortune tellers) can predict the days when this supernatural event will occur using the Chinese zodiac. And <strong>the only way to stay safe during yokai parade nights is to stay locked indoors.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-japan-s-most-famous-yokai-creatures-and-monsters\">Japan&#8217;s Most Famous Yokai Creatures and Monsters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>There are many types of yokai in Japan<\/strong>. They often have animals characteristics, although others take on human-like forms. Some take the form of inanimate objects, while there are also those with no apparent shape at all. Not all of these monsters are equally dangerous. They vary from the truly <strong>evil<\/strong> yokai, others that are simply <strong>mischievous<\/strong>, and some of them <strong>benevolent<\/strong> beings that bring good fortune. <strong>Most of them have spiritual or supernatural abilities<\/strong> that they can use to do good, as well as evil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some of Japan&#8217;s most famous yokai, are you ready?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-oni-japanese-demons\">Oni (\u9b3c): Japanese demons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The oni are the strongest, most violent, and dangerous yokai.<\/strong> Their appearance is similar to that of an ogre or demon, their body is red \u2014 sometimes blue or green \u2014 they have horns and fangs and carry an iron mace. It\u2019s one of the oldest supernatural beings and its origin is related to Buddhism. In this religion, <strong>the oni are the guardians of the gates of hell and watch over and torture the damned.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"682\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"85754\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184621\/yokai_07-682x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Oni statues in a japanese temple\" class=\"wp-image-85754\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184621\/yokai_07-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184621\/yokai_07-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184621\/yokai_07.jpg 853w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"681\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"85753\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184614\/yokai-street-12-2-681x1024.jpg\" alt=\"oni yokai in a Kyoto street\" class=\"wp-image-85753\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184614\/yokai-street-12-2-681x1024.jpg 681w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184614\/yokai-street-12-2-332x500.jpg 332w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28184614\/yokai-street-12-2.jpg 851w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Cl\u00e9mentine Cintr\u00e9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>These yokai are the protagonists of the <a href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/expelling-demons-bringing-new-years-good-luck\/\" class=\"ek-link\"><strong>Setsubun, a Japanese holiday<\/strong> celebrated in early February<\/a>, the day before the beginning of spring according to the lunar calendar. It\u2019s believed that on this day, <strong>oni visits Japanese homes<\/strong>. To scare them away, among other things, house doors are decorated with dried fish heads and holly branches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-tengu-the-guardians-of-the-mountain\">Tengu (\u5929\u72d7): The Guardians of the Mountain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tengu (\u5929\u72d7) live in the depths of the mountains<\/strong> and are especially connected to them. Their name means &#8220;heavenly dog&#8221; although their appearance has nothing to do with these animals. They\u2019re stout, with a red face and a long nose. They can fly thanks to their wings and usually carry a feathered fan on their hands. Tengu possesses a wide range of <strong>magical abilities<\/strong>, such as <strong>changing the weather according to their needs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped caption-align-center wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"682\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"85757\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185037\/yokai_09-682x1024.jpg\" alt=\"giant tengu masks at a temple in Japan\" class=\"wp-image-85757\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185037\/yokai_09-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185037\/yokai_09-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185037\/yokai_09.jpg 853w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"682\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"85758\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185043\/yokai_10-682x1024.jpg\" alt=\"some tengu masks\" class=\"wp-image-85758\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185043\/yokai_10-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185043\/yokai_10-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185043\/yokai_10.jpg 853w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">There are some Japanese temples deeply connected to&nbsp;tengu folklore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>They move through the mountain with great dexterity, emitting noises, whispers, laughter, or drumming sounds that could terrify even the bravest. <strong>They\u2019re especially dangerous for the elderly and children<\/strong> as they enjoy kidnapping the most defenseless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-kappa-the-monsters-of-the-rivers\">Kappa (\u6cb3\u7ae5): The Monsters of the Rivers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Kappa (<\/strong>\u6cb3\u7ae5<strong>) are one of the well-known yokai in Japan<\/strong>. Their actual existence has even been believed at some point <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/soranews24.com\/2014\/05\/28\/bones-of-mythical-japanese-water-demon-to-go-on-public-display\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"ek-link\">as mummified remains<\/a> of creatures <meta charset=\"utf-8\">discovered that had the morphological characteristics of this mythological monster. They live in freshwater areas, and according to the Shinto religion, they were considered the deities of rivers and lakes. Its appearance resembles that of an amphibian and sometimes it\u2019s represented with a turtle-like shell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped caption-align-center wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"85760\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185500\/yokai_14-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"kappa statue in fukusaki town, Hyogo\" class=\"wp-image-85760\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185500\/yokai_14-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185500\/yokai_14-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185500\/yokai_14-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185500\/yokai_14.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.town.fukusaki.hyogo.jp\/0000002183.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"ek-link\">Fukusaki Town<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"783\" data-id=\"85761\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185508\/yokai_15-1024x783.jpg\" alt=\"three kappa statues in a pond in japan\" class=\"wp-image-85761\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185508\/yokai_15-1024x783.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185508\/yokai_15-500x382.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185508\/yokai_15-1536x1174.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185508\/yokai_15-2048x1565.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185508\/yokai_15-scaled.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hyogo-tourism.jp\/content\/OeOekV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"ek-link\">Hyogo Official Tourist Navigation<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">Fukusaki is a town in Hyogo Prefecture strongly linked to yokai. It\u2019s the birthplace of Kunio Yanagita, known as &#8220;the father of Japanese folklore.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But <strong>their most striking feature is a water-filled dish on their head, which is said to be their life source<\/strong>. If the dish is emptied, the kappa will die. Therefore, the best way to defeat them is to <strong>bow in front of them<\/strong>. The kappa are so polite that they will return the greeting, spilling the water as they bow to you. These monsters enjoy eavesdropping and scolding women. They\u2019re particularly fond of babies, although not exactly to play with them, but as one of their favorite meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-tanuki-the-masters-of-disguise\">Tanuki (\u72f8): The Masters of Disguise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The tanuki is a master of deception and an expert at shapeshifting<\/strong>. Its original appearance is that of a large raccoon-dog and its most powerful attribute is its <strong>magical testicles<\/strong>, which are used to perform a multitude of tricks and shape-shifting. The tanuki&#8217;s testicles can adapt to any need: they become weapons, drums, umbrellas, and even pools or cloaks to hide from enemies. <strong>They also enjoy imitating human activities, such as drinking, gambling, and some Buddhist rituals<\/strong>. Generally, these creatures enjoy simply playing pranks, but they should not be underestimated because they can be dangerous at times.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185733\/yokai_17-682x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Illustrations of\" class=\"wp-image-85762\" width=\"512\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185733\/yokai_17-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185733\/yokai_17-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185733\/yokai_17.jpg 852w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Illustration of tanuki using their testicles to fish. <em>Tanuki Fishing in the River (Tanuki no kawagari)<\/em>. \u00a9 <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" class=\"ek-link ek-link\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/collections.mfa.org\/objects\/461341\" target=\"_blank\">Museum of Fine Arts<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Tanuki are very popular yokai in Japan and today are a <strong>symbol of good fortune for businesses<\/strong>. It\u2019s very common to see <a href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/shigaraki-ceramics-tanuki-disabled-project\/\" class=\"ek-link\">tanuki figures with large testicles<\/a> at the doors of shops and restaurants to attract good luck. There\u2019s also a <strong>real tanuki, the Japanese raccoon<\/strong>, which despite its similar appearance to a large raccoon, actually belongs to the canid family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"85763\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185919\/yokai_11-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"tanuki statue outside a restaurant in japan\" class=\"wp-image-85763\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185919\/yokai_11-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185919\/yokai_11-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185919\/yokai_11-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185919\/yokai_11.jpg 853w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many&nbsp;tanuki statues&nbsp;can be found outside shops and&nbsp;restaurants&nbsp;all over Japan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"85764\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185925\/yokai_12-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"real tanuki in Japan\" class=\"wp-image-85764\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185925\/yokai_12-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185925\/yokai_12-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185925\/yokai_12-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28185925\/yokai_12.jpg 853w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tanuki are similar to raccoons but are different species<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-tsukumogami-objects-that-come-to-life\">Tsukumogami (\u4ed8\u55aa\u795e): Objects That Come to Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As you know, Shintoism has the belief that both animate and inanimate beings have a soul. And precisely, <strong>tsukumogami are a type of yokai in which an object receives a soul, and thus becomes alive<\/strong>. It\u2019s believed that it happens when an object turns 100 years old and may become either a <strong>cordial spirit<\/strong> that attracts good luck or <strong>evil and harmful spirit<\/strong>. The latter is especially true if the object has been mistreated, abandoned, or discarded. A legend says that during the <strong>Heian period<\/strong> (794-1185) there was a massive cleanup in the city of Kyoto and many people got rid of old objects they no longer wanted. These objects, feeling rejected and humiliated, began to parade through the streets of the city to take revenge on the people who had scorned them.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190401\/yokai-street-01-2-1-1024x681-1.jpg\" alt=\"Japanese street in Kyoto\" class=\"wp-image-85765\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190401\/yokai-street-01-2-1-1024x681-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190401\/yokai-street-01-2-1-1024x681-1-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190401\/yokai-street-01-2-1-1024x681-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190401\/yokai-street-01-2-1-1024x681-1-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">According to the legend, this parade of abandoned tsukumogami happened on Ichijo Dori (\u4e00\u6761\u901a\u308a), a street in Kyoto with many yokai statues. \u00a9 Cl\u00e9mentine Cintr\u00e9<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Tsukumogami may turn into hundreds of different objects and artifacts:<\/strong> kitchen utensils, tools, musical instruments, clothes, books, furniture&#8230; The belief that old objects become yokai is still alive in Japan today. For example, in some places, offerings are made to tools so their spirits will be reborn. On occasion, broken objects are brought to a shrine to dispose of peacefully so that they will not be occupied by evil yokai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"681\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"85767\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190611\/yokai-street-09-2-681x1024-1.jpg\" alt=\"yokais through the window in kyoto\" class=\"wp-image-85767\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190611\/yokai-street-09-2-681x1024-1.jpg 681w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190611\/yokai-street-09-2-681x1024-1-333x500.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Cl\u00e9mentine Cintr\u00e9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"681\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"85766\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190605\/yokai-street-05-2-681x1024-1.jpg\" alt=\"yokai in a flower shop\" class=\"wp-image-85766\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190605\/yokai-street-05-2-681x1024-1.jpg 681w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190605\/yokai-street-05-2-681x1024-1-333x500.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Cl\u00e9mentine Cintr\u00e9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the month of October, the Ichijo Hyakki Yakou festival (\u4e00\u6761\u767e\u9b3c\u591c\u884c) is held, where some participants dress up as yokai to represent the tsukumogami parade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-yokai-and-yurei-are-they-monsters-or-ghosts\">Yokai and Yurei: Are They Monsters or Ghosts?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Japanese folklore has been studied for centuries and some researchers include yurei ghosts as a subgroup of the Japanese yokai. On the other hand, others believe they belong to a different category. What seems to be agreed upon by everyone is that there\u2019s a big difference between these supernatural beings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/yurei-japanese-ghosts\/\" class=\"ek-link\">The yurei are the spirits or ghosts of the deceased<\/a> who, in general, appear to people or in specific places because of some matters that were left unresolved during their earthly life. On the other hand, yokai are not considered spirits or ghosts because they\u2019re not dead souls. They\u2019re still alive but move in another dimension of space and time different from ours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-yokai-in-japan-today\">Yokai in Japan Today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although yokai have been present in Japanese art and culture for hundreds of years, they experienced a great boom in the Edo period (1603\u20131867), caused by the development of the publishing industry and authors who researched and wrote about these monsters. In Miyoshi, a city in Hiroshima Prefecture, there\u2019s the <strong>Miyoshi Mononoke Museum<\/strong>,<a href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/miyoshi-day-trip-hiroshima\/\" class=\"ek-link\"> the first museum dedicated to yokai<\/a>. This museum houses a large part of the collection of Koichi Yumoto, one of the great researchers and collectors of yokai art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Due to the expansion and export of the Japanese video game, film, anime, and manga industries, <strong>the yokai existence has begun to spread globally in recent decades<\/strong>. The fact that these supernatural monsters are still present today is owed mostly to<a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shigeru_Mizuki\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"ek-link\"> <strong>Shigeru Mizuki<\/strong> <\/a>(\u6c34\u6728\u3057\u3052\u308b). He\u2019s <strong>one of Japan&#8217;s most popular manga authors who\u2019s devoted much of his work to yokai.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190827\/yokai_22-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-85768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190827\/yokai_22-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190827\/yokai_22-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190827\/yokai_22-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190827\/yokai_22-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28190827\/yokai_22.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">GeGeGe no Kitaro yokai are from different Japanese regions<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>In fact, the image that most Japanese people have in their minds of yokai has been formed thanks to the manga and anime series <a href=\"https:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/GeGeGe_no_Kitar\u014d\" class=\"ek-link\"><strong>Gegege no<\/strong><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/GeGeGe_no_Kitar\u014d\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"  (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"ek-link\"> <\/a><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/GeGeGe_no_Kitar\u014d\" class=\"ek-link\"><strong>Kitaro<\/strong> (\u30b2\u30b2\u30b2\u30b2\u306e\u9b3c\u592a\u90ce)<\/a>, created by Mizuki. The popularity of this mangaka and his yokai is so widespread in Japan, that there\u2019s<a href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/yokai-manga-town-near-hiroshima\/\" class=\"ek-link\"> a museum about his life in Sakaiminato<\/a>, the city where he grew up. He later moved to Chofu, a city in Tokyo, where he remained until his death. And right there, very close to the Jindaiji temple there is also a shop-museum related to his works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped aligncenter caption-align-center wp-block-gallery-8 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"85771\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28192546\/yokai_21-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"gegege no kitaro museum and store in japan\" class=\"wp-image-85771\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28192546\/yokai_21-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28192546\/yokai_21-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28192546\/yokai_21-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28192546\/yokai_21.jpg 853w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"682\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"85772\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28192551\/yokai_23-682x1024.jpg\" alt=\"illustration of a yokai  gegege no kitaro\" class=\"wp-image-85772\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28192551\/yokai_23-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28192551\/yokai_23-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28192551\/yokai_23.jpg 853w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">GeGeGe no Kitaro themed cafe and shop. Upstairs there is a small museum with an entrance fee of 100 yen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, the yokai have a huge influence on one of the biggest Japanese franchises worldwide. <a href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/pokemon-phenomenon-japan\/\" class=\"ek-link\">Yes, I&#8217;m talking about <strong>Pok\u00e9mon<\/strong>.<\/a> Many of these animated characters are inspired by yokai and other creatures from Japanese folklore. Oni, tengu, kappa, tanuki, and dozens of tsukumogami, among many other <strong>yokai, are part of the great list of Pok\u00e9mon creatures that exist today.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image caption-align-center\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"855\" height=\"486\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28192955\/yokai_19.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-85775\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28192955\/yokai_19.jpg 855w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28192955\/yokai_19-500x284.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 855px) 100vw, 855px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Pok\u00e9mon Mawile is based on&nbsp;the futakuchi-onna | Left: Artwork by Yuko Shimizu.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s unquestionable that the yokai have played a very important role in Japanese society and the cultural development of the country. There are countless yokai, each with its own story, which for hundreds of years have been passed down from parents to children, from grandparents to grandchildren. Perhaps one day, during a dark and silent Japanese summer night, you\u2019ll feel something tapping on your leg and a strange breeze on the back of your neck. You might find a compelling reason. Or maybe it&#8217;s a mischievous yokai who wants to play with you. Believing in its existence is up to you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Since the beginning of time, people have always tried to find answers or reasons for those situations or phenomena in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":155,"featured_media":85751,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pgc_meta":"","_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":10,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[26,2050],"tags":[2101,2071,1348,1809,2193,1362],"class_list":{"0":"post-85422","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-culture","8":"category-things-to-know","9":"tag-buddhism","10":"tag-japanese-society","11":"tag-manga","12":"tag-religion","13":"tag-shinto","14":"tag-tradition"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Yokai: Discover the History of Japan&#039;s Legendary Monsters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Feel a cold chill on the back of your neck? 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