Hakutaku originates from China, where it is known as Bai Ze. This being is almost omniscient, displaying great compassion as it consumes people’s bad dreams and experiences. It is considered a rare symbol of luck. The Appearance The hakutaku’s appearance varies in different tales. Some describe it as a mixture of a horned white tiger and a dragon body. Others portray it as cat-like with a dragon head and green hair. however, in Japanese mythology,…
Continue readingDodomeki are cursed women or girls who tend to steal money. The curse gives them a bizarre appearance. They have the ability to conjure fire and let poisonous fumes pour out of their mouths. Appearance The Dodomeki resembles a very tall woman with shaggy black hair. The appearance of the Dodomeki is influenced by many puns from Japan. For example, they have very long arms, which is a figure of speech in Japan for someone…
Continue readingYamata no Orochi, or “eight-headed, eight-tailed snake,” is a legendary creature in Japanese mythology. Its appearance is described as a gigantic snake, whose body is as large as eight valleys and can cover eight hills. Even fir, cypress trees and moss grow on its back. In some stories, the snake is described as completely black. In others it has glowing red eyes and a red, inflamed and bleeding belly. However, the main feature is the…
Continue readingJorōgumo, a legendary creature, is said to originate from a 400-year-old golden orb-weaver that develops magical powers and a half-humanoid, half-arachnoid appearance due to its age. Its upper body looks like a beautiful young woman, while its lower body is that of a giant spider. Jorōgumo are highly intelligent and cold-hearted, viewing humans (preferably men) as nothing more than insects fit for consumption. They lure young men into their lair and torture them to death…
Continue readingGashadokuro is a terrifying Yokai, a giant skeletal monster that embodies the hatred and resentment of the dead. As per legend, it’s formed when the bodies of those who die in battles remain unburied, and their despair and anger coalesce into a 10-meter-tall skeleton. At night, it roams around, hunting people and emitting a rattling sound. If it captures a human, it crushes them or bites off their head, drinking their blood. Since fighting it…
Continue readingThe kappa is one of the most famous yokai, alongside the tengu and hannya. There are reportedly over 80 different kappa species, with more known about its appearance and behavior than other mythical creatures. It resembles a turtle-human mutation and is about the size of a small child, but much stronger. Its skin is scaly and its face adorned with a turtle-like beak, wearing a shell on its back. Stories say the kappa has over…
Continue readingThe Daitengu is one of the most well-known Yokai creatures in Japanese folklore, alongside Kappa and Hannya. These mythical beings are part of the Tengu family, which is divided into two types – the exclusively evil Kotengu and the Daitengu, which are more humanoid and higher up in the hierarchy. The appearance Daitengus are imposing figures that wear the robe of the Yamabushi mountain ascetics and are slightly taller than conventional humans. They have a…
Continue readingThe Baku is a chimera-like creature that has its origins in China. According to legend, it was the last animal created by the gods. Due to having only remnants of other animals left, they put them together and the Baku was born. Thus, it 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. The behavior Unlike many…
Continue readingKitsune, the Japanese word for fox, refers to both the conventional fox and the version with paranormal magical powers. Kitsune can be divided into two main groups – the Zenko, or “good foxes,” which are sacred foxes considered servants of the deity Inari and messengers between gods and humans, and the Yako, or “field foxes,” which are wild and mischievous but also keep promises and return favors. The appearance Kitsune usually look like regular foxes,…
Continue readingIn Japan, there is a wide variety of cats that can be found everywhere. Like other animals (or even objects), cats develop supernatural abilities when they reach a great age (in this case, over 13 years) or gain weight (over 3.75 kg) and become a Yōkai. One type of Yōkai that cats can become is the Bakeneko. A telltale sign that a cat will soon transform into a Bakeneko is a tail that grows longer.…
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