Japanese Mythological Creatures That Haunted My Childhood Curiosity

Growing up, I recall my 5-year-old self being absolutely captivated by Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away—a film I kept returning to, equal parts fascinated and frightened by the strange creatures roaming the mystical world Chihiro had accidentally wandered into. What were these creatures, and where did they come from? Were they gods or monsters? 

My fascination with the film and the questions that followed led me down many rabbit holes. 

It turns out that yōkai, these Japanese mythological creatures, exist beyond this cinematic masterpiece – they came from Japan’s cultural roots and are interwoven throughout its traditions and everyday life.

From the mischievous, shape-shifting tanuki to the frightening oni, yōkai have consistently occupied a special place in Japanese culture across various regions, media, and time periods. 

Traditionally found in Japanese folklore, they vary in form, disposition, and characteristics and make consistent appearances in both traditional and modern Japan – in ancient literature like the Kojiki to more contemporary manga like GeGeGe no Kitarō and festivals like the Tokushima yōkai Matsuri, just to name a few. 

Put simply, in an ever-changing world, yōkai serve as an enduring link bridging Japan’s past to its present.

Shinto and Buddhist Roots of Japanese Mythological Creatures

Yōkai and their associated folklore have their roots in Japan’s religious and spiritual beliefs.

But what is a yōkai in Japan?

In Shintoism, yōkai are often seen as nature-dwelling spiritual entities, inhabiting mountains, rivers, and even animals. They reflect the religion’s belief and worldview that nature is a dwelling place for the kami, or gods. 

Thus, yōkai serve as a bridge linking the human world to that of kami, and in doing so teach humans to have reverence for the environment around them. 

For example, the tengu, traditionally depicted as a creature with both human and bird-like characteristics, often appears in Shinto folktales as guardians of forests and mountains, punishing those who disrespect the sanctity of their dwelling.

Likewise, in Buddhism, oni (ogre-like demons) play a central role in much of the religion’s beliefs. The associated folktales serve to teach people lessons on discipline, righteousness, and karma. 

During Setsubun, many Japanese people partake in mamemaki. They throw roasted beans at someone dressed up as an oni or out their front door while shouting “鬼は外！福は内！” which can be translated to “Demons out, Fortune in.” 

While Setsubun is not a Buddhist festival, such practices are often carried out at temples and are reminiscent of the religion’s purification rituals, which aim to expel evil spirits and welcome in good energy.

How Villages in Japan Lived with Yokai

Beyond strictly religious contexts, yōkai also traditionally played an integral role in villages in ancient Japan. As is characteristic of many cultures, such folktales and concepts helped people make sense of major phenomena, including natural disasters, crop failures, and disease, as these events that could have widespread implications for the community were often attributed to displeased yōkai or kami.

In villages that relied heavily on agriculture for sustenance, kitsune, fox spirits believed to be messengers for Inari, the deity of agriculture, fertility, and rice, were viewed as important figures that could determine the fate of the next harvest. 

Villages would therefore make offerings of rice, sake, or inari-zushi at shrines to appease kitsune and help ensure a bountiful harvest. Such beliefs attributing misfortune to yōkai thus enabled people to cope with uncertainty by giving it a name, as well as a tangible method of addressing it as a community by partaking in such practices and rituals.

In local communities, yōkai also served a special role in teaching children moral and functional lessons. For instance, kappa, an aquatic yōkai, made frequent appearances in cautionary tales and artwork warning children of the dangers of drowning, as it was said to pull people underwater and drown them if they didn’t take caution in deep waters or disrespected their dwelling. 

Such tales were passed down through generations, teaching children to obey their elders’ warnings to take safety measures seriously and to once again corroborate the power and sanctity of nature.

Where to Experience Yokai Villages in Japan

If you want to step into the world of yōkai beyond books and films, several villages and museums across Japan celebrate these mythical beings:

• Mizuki Shigeru Road (Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture): Often called Yōkai Village, this street is lined with over 150 bronze statues of yōkai characters created by manga artist Mizuki Shigeru.

• Ōboke Yōkai Village (Tokushima Prefecture): Nestled in the scenic Iya Valley, this attraction blends folklore with local crafts, featuring playful yōkai statues, themed cafés, and workshops that connect mythology with the region’s natural beauty.

• Yōkai Art Museum (Shodoshima, Kagawa Prefecture): A modern take on folklore, this museum presents yōkai through contemporary design and installations.

• Yōkai Street (Kyoto, Fukuchiyama): A shopping street where local businesses decorate storefronts with yōkai figures and lanterns, especially lively during seasonal festivals.

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The Enduring Legacy of Japanese Mythological Creatures

At times mischievous and playful, other times fearsome and deific, yōkai have long inhabited many layers of Japan’s culture, making it difficult to categorize them into distinct roles or characteristics. 

These mythological creatures were deeply intertwined with religious beliefs, village life, and the way people made sense of the world around them. 

And while much of the world around us has changed, bringing with it alternative explanations for such worldly phenomena, their legacy continues to live on today–in festivals like the Tokushima Yōkai Matsuri (Yōkai Festival), everyday rituals like leaving offerings at temples, and in modern media and entertainment like the oni in the popular manga and anime series, Kimetsu No Yaiba (Demon Slayer), just to name a few examples. 

Yōkai thus continue to occupy a special part of Japan’s culture, and these traditional and contemporary practices that bring them to life are a testament to their timeless nature in an ever-changing world.

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