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Folktales

Illustrated yokai folktales

Panel-art retellings from Japanese folklore. Each tale lives on its creature’s page.

19 illustrated stories

Zashiki-warashi

Zashiki-warashi

座敷童子

Spirit

In the mist-shrouded mountains of Iwate's countryside, there stood an old inn, its wooden sign creaking in the gentle br...

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Yama-uba

Yama-uba

山姥

Spirit

In the depths of Akakawa Valley, where misty dawn veiled the mountainsides, an old woman dwelled. They called her Yama-u...

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Ubume

Ubume

産女

Spirit

In the village of Akakawa, where the willow trees wept in the autumn breeze, there lived an old priest named Kaito. He t...

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Sunakake-baba

Sunakake-baba

砂かけ婆

Spirit

In the hills of Tottori, where the misty dawn clings to the thatched roofs, there lived an elderly woman named Kikuno. S...

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Sorobanbōzu

Sorobanbōzu

算盤坊主

Spirit

In the forgotten recesses of the old temple's library, where dusty tomes and yellowed scrolls lay stacked upon shelves t...

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Sodehiki-kozō

Sodehiki-kozō

袖引小僧

Spirit

In twilight's hush, where temple grounds whispered secrets to the wind, a lone traveler made his way through the winding...

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Shōkera

Shōkera

しょうけら

Spirit

In the depths of winter, when snowflakes danced in the wind and candles burned brightly within homes, there lived a youn...

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Shōjō

Shōjō

猩々

Spirit

In the twilight hour, when the sun's fiery orb dipped into the waves and painted the sea with hues of crimson and gold,...

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Shunoban

Shunoban

朱の番

Spirit

In the dead of night, when the village was shrouded in darkness and the wind whispered through the bamboo groves, there...

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Shiro-bōzu

Shiro-bōzu

白坊主

Spirit

In the depths of rural Akita, where mist-shrouded valleys whispered secrets to one another, there lived an elderly weave...

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Shikome

Shikome

醜女

Spirit

In a forgotten valley, where the sun dipped into the horizon and painted the sky with hues of crimson and gold, there li...

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Shikigami

Shikigami

式神

Spirit

In the depths of autumn's twilight, when cypress and maple leaves rustled in the faint breeze, Onmyōji Akira stood befor...

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Shiki-ōji

Shiki-ōji

式王子

Spirit

In twilight's hush, where cherry blossoms swayed like delicate fingers on the wind, a young priestess named Kiyomi wande...

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Senpoku-Kanpoku

Senpoku-Kanpoku

せんぽくかんぽく

Spirit

In the village of Katsuragi, where mist veiled the mountains and autumn leaves whispered secrets to the wind, there live...

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Onryō

Onryō

怨霊

Spirit

In the mist-shrouded village of Akakawa, where cherry blossoms bloomed in the dead of winter, there lived a young weaver...

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Ikiryō

Ikiryō

生霊

Spirit

In the moonlit streets of our village, where cherry blossoms bloomed in every corner, a young woman named Emiko dwelled....

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Hotoke

Hotoke

Spirit

In the village nestled between two great rivers, there lived an elderly woman named Okuni. She was known for her kindnes...

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Funayūrei

Funayūrei

船幽霊

Spirit

In the small fishing village of Aokawa, where the sun dipped into the sea like a burning ember, there lived an old fishe...

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Akamataa

Akamataa

アカマター

Spirit

In the heart of the sacred grove of Kaha'au, where ancient trees whispered secrets to the wind, an elderly woman named K...

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