Category
Spirit
19 creatures
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Akamataa
アカマター
Akamataa is often paired with another serpent spirit called Kuromataa (the "Black Mataa").
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Funayūrei
船幽霊
Ghostly spirits of those who perished at sea. They appear on stormy nights, trying to sink ships and drag sailors to watery graves.
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Hotoke
仏
A respectful term for the dead, often used to refer to the soul after passing. In Japanese folklore, hotoke may manifest as peaceful spirits or return as ghosts if not properly honored.
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Ikiryō
生霊
A living ghost, Ikiryō is the manifestation of a person’s soul caused by strong emotions like jealousy or hatred, often appearing while the person is still alive.
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Onryō
怨霊
Onryō are vengeful spirits that return from the dead to haunt those who wronged them in life, driven by anger and betrayal.
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Senpoku-Kanpoku
せんぽくかんぽく
Senpoku-Kanpoku is a mysterious human-faced frog yokai believed to appear at death and escort spirits to the afterlife.
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Shiki-ōji
式王子
Shiki-ōji is the most elite type of shikigami in Japanese folklore, summoned by powerful Onmyōji as a guardian spirit of immense strength and rank.
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Shikigami
式神
Shikigami are summoned spirits from Japanese folklore, controlled by Onmyōji to carry out tasks such as protection, attack, or espionage.
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Shikome
醜女
Shikome are grotesque female spirits sent by Izanami to chase Izanagi out of the underworld, embodying death’s fury and decay.
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Shiro-bōzu
白坊主
Shiro-bōzu is a mysterious white, faceless spirit known to appear silently in abandoned places, stirring a deep sense of fear and unease.
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Shōjō
猩々
Shōjō are red-haired sea-spirits known for their love of sake and joy. They appear in theater and folklore as dancing, laughing, and drinking beings that bring happiness and fortune.
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Shōkera
しょうけら
Shōkera is a mysterious yokai that peers into houses through skylights, believed to watch human behavior and quietly pass judgment. It serves as a reminder that one’s actions are always seen.
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Shunoban
朱の番
Shunoban is a red-faced ghost or ghoul in Japanese folklore that startles people by appearing suddenly on dark streets. Though harmless, it is deeply unsettling and may symbolize fear itself.
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Sodehiki-kozō
袖引小僧
Sodehiki-kozō is an invisible yokai known for sneaking up on unsuspecting pedestrians and tugging at their sleeves, startling them before vanishing without a trace.
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Sorobanbōzu
算盤坊主
Sorobanbōzu is a ghostly monk who appears at night with an abacus, making eerie counting sounds in darkened buildings.
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Sunakake-baba
砂かけ婆
Sunakake-baba is a sand-throwing hag yokai who blinds travelers by casting sand into their eyes at night.
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Ubume
産女
Ubume is the spirit of a woman who died during childbirth, often depicted trying to protect her baby or wandering near temples at night.
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Yama-uba
山姥
A terrifying mountain witch who may devour or aid travelers in Japanese folklore.
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Zashiki-warashi
座敷童子
A child-like spirit who lives in traditional Japanese homes and brings fortune to families who treat it kindly.