Yokai & folklore
A–Z directory
Start with the most-read yokai and deepest encyclopedia entries — or jump straight to a letter.
295 creatures
Top yokai
The creatures readers visit most.
Kyūbi-no-kitsune
九尾の狐
Yokai
A legendary nine-tailed fox with immense magical power, associated with both divine protection and dangerous seduction.
Jibakurei
地縛霊
Yurei
A spirit bound to a specific location, often appearing where they died in trauma or with unfinished business.
Yatagarasu
八咫烏
Yokai
A three-legged crow sent by the sun goddess Amaterasu to guide the first emperor of Japan. It symbolizes divine guidance and is a national symbol of Japan.
Shinigami
死神
God
Shinigami are death spirits in Japanese folklore. Often likened to the Grim Reaper, they lead humans toward death or appear at the moment of passing.
Raijū
雷獣
Yokai
A beast made of lightning that falls from the sky during storms and sometimes curls up in sleeping people's bellies.
Kyūketsuki
吸血鬼
Yokai
The Japanese vampire, inspired by Western legends, known for drinking blood and blending superstition with modern horror.
Ōmukade
大百足
Yokai
A colossal, venomous centipede known for battling dragons and threatening mountain paths and lakes.
Byakko
白虎
Dragon
One of the Four Symbols of Chinese and Japanese mythology, Byakko is the White Tiger of the West, representing metal, autumn, and protection.
Illustrated folktales
Retellings with panel art — open a tale on the creature page.
Featured tale
Ōmukade
大百足
In the depths of autumn, when the wind whispers secrets to the mountains, I chanced upon a village beset by darkness. The thatched roofs seemed to sag under the weight of foreboding, and the once-vibrant rice fields lay...
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Ōkubi
大首
In a small village nestled in the mist-shrouded mountains, there lived a young woman named Emiko. She was known for her beauty and kindness,...
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Ōkamuro
大顔
In the sleepy town of Shirakawa, where cherry blossoms bloomed in every corner and misty rain veiled the streets at dusk, there stood an anc...
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Zunbera-bō
ずんべら坊
In the quiet village of Akakawa, where the misty dawn often lingered into morning, there lived a young man named Kaito. He was a skilled wea...
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Zennyo Ryūō
善如龍王
In the mountains of Kyoto, where the misty veil of dawn still clung to the valleys, a young acolyte named Kenji tended the sacred gardens of...
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Zashiki-warashi
座敷童子
In the mist-shrouded mountains of Iwate's countryside, there stood an old inn, its wooden sign creaking in the gentle breeze. The sign, pain...
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