Masaki Gitsune is not a separate yokai species but the legend of a certain powerful, nine-tailed female kitsune who became famous for her long and intense life. The legend comes from the novel “Nansō satomi hakkenden” (“The Chronicles of the Eight Dogs”). The legend At a time when Kawagoi Moriyuki ruled over Shinobu no Oka Castle, a pregnant kitsune sought a safe haven beneath the castle. Moriyuki’s kind wife allowed her to stay there and…
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 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,…
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