Artwork by Slapstick Genius IG Account: @slapstick.genius The Shiofuki is a really elusive aquatic yokai which lives in the distant ocean. It has a hose-like mouth that gushes water when provoked. A very special thanks to Slapstick Genius for sending us this amazing yokai art!
Artwork by Mr. Luis Mendoza IG Account: @leetoonz Ippon-Datara is a shy yokai with one trunk-like leg, single eye, hops and goes tumbling around the deep mountains of Japan where it inhabits. A very special thanks to Mr. Luis Mendoza for sending us this amazing yokai art!
When a woman dies giving birth to her child she becomes a yokai called the Ubume. The Ubume are usually harmless. They wander near rivers while it’s raining in their white dress soaked in blood caused by the birthing. Sometimes they are seen pregnant, sometimes carrying a living baby or a dead one. The Ubume… Continue reading Ubume
Kodama is a tree spirit. They inhabit trees deep in the forests of Japan. They look like bluish light orbs. They can live inside the trees or around it. The life of the Kodama is connected with the trees. They protect the trees it inhabits and its surroundings. If someone tries or cuts these trees… Continue reading Kodama
Inugami literally means dog god. Inugamis are dogs that has been starved to death, decapitated and then buried on crossroads. They come back as an onryo (vengeful spirit.) This kind of ritual is made by their masters for them to become an Inugami, to be obedient again despite of being deprived of food. The preserved… Continue reading Inugami
This dangerous yokai inhabits the ocean. They also resembles the Ningyo but the Umi nyobo can also live on the land for a few days. They prey on humans but it was believed that they also show kindness to humans. They can look like a regular person but when you look closely, they have fishlike… Continue reading Umi nyobo
Teke Teke is an Onryo or a vengeful spirit. Teke Teke was once a school girl that has fallen on a railway and was ran over by a train cutting her body into half. Teke Teke has no lower body and was said to be carrying a sickle when haunting train stations at night. The… Continue reading Teke Teke
Hyakume is impossible to tell apart from the Nuppeppo. They both look like giant fleshy fat blobs. However, the Hyakume is covered with hundreds of blinking eyes. Underneath those fat blobs are human-like bodies. The Hyakume commonly lives on graveyards and can be seen at night. They guard the graveyard from thieves. Their eyes can… Continue reading Hyakume
Wanyudo literally means wheel monk. Wanyudo is a giant head trapped in flaming oxcart wheel. The Legends says that this monk used to be a cruel leader who carried his victims at the back of his oxcart. As punishment, the monk was tormented in a fiery oxcart wheel burning his head for eternity. It was… Continue reading Wanyudo
Suika no bakemono literally means watermelon monster. This yokai is a samurai with a watermelon as its head. No further information was known for this strange yokai but it appeared in Buson Yokai Emaki, a famous picture scroll.
