Yokai (ようかい) is a term used to describe monsters, demons, goblins, and ghosts in Japan. They are believed to cause supernatural or scientifically unexplainable phenomena and have always been closely connected to the lives of the Japanese people.

In Japan It was believed that everything in the world possessed something spiritual. These spirits were known as Yokai and were treated with respect in the form of shrines and temples.

Art found here: https://hyakumonogatari.com/2013/02/05/a-brief-history-of-yokai/

The Kodama is a Yokai that resembles a floating light or a small humanoid figure. They are the spirit of an ancient tree and are considered protectors of the forest. At times they will leave their tree to settle the nature around them, bringing balance and blessings. In Japan, a tree that is believed to be the home of a Kodama is marked with a sacred rope known as a shimenawa. This is because the Kodama cannot live without their tree. They will die if the tree dies and vice versa. It is believed that if the tree of a Kodama is cut it will bleed. It is considered a grave sin to cut down these trees and will bring a curse to the community bringing it to ruin. If you watch Studio Ghibli, you would have seen depictions of Kodama in the movie “Princess Mononoke” and a shimenawa in “My neighbor Totoro”.

Art 1 found here: https://dic.pixiv.net/a/%E6%9C%A8%E9%9C%8A

Art 2 by: Studio Ghibli

The Koma Inu are holy animals employed as guardians of ancient sites. Due to their appearance and name the English translation for the title of this Yokai is “lion dog”. Koma Inu came to Japan from Korea, which came from China, which originated in India. Originally Koma Inu were considered protectors of Buddhist temples, however, over time they shifted to Shinto shrines. Koma Inu are found in male and female pairs one with a open mouth and one closed. The female usually guards those living inside, while the male guards the structure itself. The open mouth is meant to be forming the sound あ (a), while the closed mouth is forming the sound うん (un). Combined, they form the word a-un, the Japanese rendition of the Indian word ॐ (om). Which was a word that originated in Hinduism and was adopted by Buddhism. The meaning of ॐ (om) is sometimes described as the name of god or the sound of the vibration of the universe.

Image found here: http://yabai.com/p/3322

The Ningyo is the Japanese version of a mermaid. However, unlike Western style mermaids the Ningyo are more beast than human. They can have anything from ugly, deformed fish-like faces, to entire human torsos with long, bony fingers and sharp claws. The first recorded Ningyo sightings in Japan are found in the Nihon Shoki, which is one of the oldest books of classical Japanese history and dates back to 619 CE. It is believed that eating the flesh of a Ningyo will grant a person eternal life and youth. However, this is extremely dangerous as Ningyo can place powerful curses on people who try to wound or capture them. For example, there are various legends about a Ningyo getting captured by a fisherman resulting in whole towns getting destroyed by earthquakes and tidal waves. As such it is considered best to avoid Ningyo at all costs.

Art 1 (more accurate): Konjaku Hyakki Shui by Toriyama Sekien

Art 2 (because I like it) found here: https://powerlisting.fandom.com/wiki/Ningyo_Physiology

Few have seen this Yokai but it is said to be short and squat with three fingers on large hands and resembles a Buddhist priest.  They sit on the river side to wash azuki beans and sing strange little songs along with the sound of the beans they are cleaning. They are elusive Yokai. When someone tries gets near them they will undoubtedly fall into the river and get swept away. Resulting in scaring the Yokai away due to the splash that is made when falling into the river. Few have seen this Yokai, however, those who do spot them are gifted with good luck.

Art from: Ehon Hyaku Monogatari by Takehara Shunsen

Tsukumogami is a title used to descibe household items that were possessed by spirits resulting in sentient objects.

Karakasa - 唐傘

The Karakasa is a Yokai that appears as a traditional umbrella with a singular eye, a large leg protruding from the bottom and a huge tongue. This Yokai was an umbrella that was angered that its owner left it behind and forgot it. They are fairly harmless, however, they like to play tricks on people. They like to hid among umbrella racks and lick humans from behind.

Art found here: https://yokai.fandom.com/wiki/Karakasa-Koz%C5%8D

Mokumokuren - 目目連

The Mokumokuren develops when the shoji (paper window and sliding doors) isn’t properly taken care of. Holes will develop and if they aren’t repaired quickly enough ghostly eyes will appear in the holes and watch the people in the house. Although creepy the  Mokumokuren is completely harmless.

Art by: Toriyama Sekien

Burabura - 不々落々

The Burabura is a yokai that was an old paper lantern that split with age. Developing a long tongue and eyes. This Yokai is fairly harmless but likes to scare people. They scare people by sticking out their tongue’s and fly after their victim.

Art found here: https://yokai.fandom.com/wiki/Burabura

The Hitotsume kozō is a one-eyed goblin boy dressed like a Buddhist monk with one eye and a long tongue. Hitotsume kozō are fairly harmless yokai. They delight in startling people by suddenly appearing on a dark street. As they are mischievous and childlike yokai. Hitotsume kozō spends most of their time startling people, however, they have one important job. Every year on December 8th Hitotsume kozō travel across Japan and record in ledgers which families have been bad throughout the year. They will deliver this information to the god of pestilence and bad luck. Using this information, the families fortunes for the following year is decided.

Art from the: Bakemono Chakutōchō by Masayoshi Kitao.

The Gumyōchō is a beautiful two headed bird that resembles a pheasant. It came to Japan from India when Buddhism was introduced. The Gumyōchō is one of the seven birds that is believed to live in Gokuraku jōdo (Nirvana) a paradise created by Amid Buddha. It along with the other seven birds sing holy scriptures and it is believed that if someone hears this bird they will achieve enlightenment. Their story is considered a parable for human interdependence. The story goes that there was once a Gumyōchō that lived in the snowy mountains of India. The heads hated one another as they had varying personalities and desires. When one was sleepy the other was hungry, when one wanted to play the other wanted to rest and vice versa. These heads were named Karuda and Upakaruda. So one day when Upakaruda was sleeping Karuda ate fruit filling their shared stomach. When Upakaruda awoke he wanted to eat but couldn’t because they were already full. As revenge Upakaruda ate poisonous fruit resulting in killing both himself and Karuda. In his last moments Upakaruda realized that resenting his other head was foolish as they both relied on one another. As a result, he understood one of the core tenets of Buddhism (interconnectedness) and was reborn in nirvana.

Image by: Mathew Meyer

The Baku is a holy beast that has the body of a bear, the head of an elephant, the eyes of a rhinoceros, the tail of an ox, and the legs of a tiger. Legend says that when the gods were creating the animals the Baku was put together by the leftover pieces at the end of creation, making it a favorite among the gods. The Baku act as guardian deities for humans and feed on peoples nightmares. Evil Yokai fear Baku. As such, they flee from Baku, as well as, avoid Baku habitats. It is believed that health and good fortune follow Baku. Resulting in the common use of the Baku image and name on talismans and charms. It is also common for the image of the Baku to be carved in, above temple doors. Today in Japan the Tapir is also called a Baku due to their similar appearance.

Art found here: http://sofvi.tokyo/trauma-youkai4/

Kame hime is the younger sister of Osakabe hime. Much like her sister, Kame hime is a reclusive yokai that does not like communicating with humans. However, Kame hime is believed to reside in Inawashiro Castle, in Fukushima. Unlike her sister, Kame hime absolutely refuses to interact with humans, and will only communicate with them through the yokai that are in service to her, such as shunobon or shitanaga uba. It is said that occasionally Kame hime will visit her sister at Himeji Castle. When visiting, Kame hime will bring the severed head of a man as a souvenir.

Below is a modern image of the entrance of Inawashiro Castle. Unfortunately, the castle itself is no longer present in this era.

Art by: Matthew Meyer

Image found here: http://castle.jpn.org/en/mutsu5/inawashiro/2.html