Illustrated yokai folktales

Ōmukade

大百足

Yokai

In the depths of autumn, when the wind whispers secrets to the mountains, I chanced upon a village beset by darkness. Th...

Read the tale →

Ōkubi

大首

Yokai

In a small village nestled in the mist-shrouded mountains, there lived a young woman named Emiko. She was known for her...

Read the tale →

Ōkamuro

大顔

Yokai

In the sleepy town of Shirakawa, where cherry blossoms bloomed in every corner and misty rain veiled the streets at dusk...

Read the tale →

Zunbera-bō

ずんべら坊

Yokai

In the quiet village of Akakawa, where the misty dawn often lingered into morning, there lived a young man named Kaito....

Read the tale →

Yōsei

妖精

Yokai

In the depths of autumn's haze, when the maples donned their fiery crowns and the air grew crisp with the scent of woods...

Read the tale →

Yukinko

雪ん子

Yokai

In the snow-shrouded village of Akakawa, where the winds howled through the pine trees like a chorus of restless spirits...

Read the tale →

Yuki-onna

雪女

Yokai

In the village of Hakuba, nestled between two great mountains, there lived a young woodsman named Kaito. He was known fo...

Read the tale →

Yosuzume

夜雀

Yokai

In the depths of Kyūshū's mountains, where the wind whispers secrets to the trees, I once encountered the Yosuzume. It w...

Read the tale →

Yomotsu-shikome

黄泉醜女

Yokai

In the depths of Yomi, where the misty veil shrouds all, there dwelled a coven of Yomotsu-shikome. Their twisted forms w...

Read the tale →

Yato-no-kami

夜刀神

Yokai

In days when the sun still wore its crown of glory, a young couple, Kaito and Emiko, fled their war-torn village to find...

Read the tale →

Yatagarasu

八咫烏

Yokai

In the depths of autumn, when the rice fields shimmered with golden light and the trees donned their crimson finery, a y...

Read the tale →

Yanari

家鳴

Yokai

In the sleepy village of Shirakawa, where misty mountains kissed the sky and bamboo forests swayed in the wind, there st...

Read the tale →

Yamata-no-Orochi

八岐大蛇

Yokai

In days when time was measured by the seasons and darkness dwelled in every shadow, there lived an ancient crone who ten...

Read the tale →

Yama-waro

山童

Yokai

In the depths of Akakawa mountain, where cedar trees pierced the sky and waterfalls sang to the wind, there lived a Yama...

Read the tale →

Yama-otoko

山男

Yokai

In the misty mountains of old, where the cedar trees stood sentinel and the wild cherry blossoms bloomed like pink firef...

Read the tale →

Yama-oroshi

山颪

Yokai

In the depths of winter's chill, when snowflakes danced and swirled about the mountain villages, there lived an elderly...

Read the tale →

Yama-inu

山犬

Yokai

In the depths of Kyūshū's rugged mountains, where cherry blossoms bloomed in secret gardens and mist veiled the peaks, t...

Read the tale →

Yama-chichi

山父

Yokai

In the depths of winter, when snowflakes danced in the mountains and shrouded the villages below, Kaito ventured into th...

Read the tale →

Yama-bito

山人

Yokai

In the depths of Akakawa valley, where the forest grows dense and the mist lingers, there lived an elderly man named Kai...

Read the tale →

Yama-biko

山彦

Yokai

In the mist-shrouded mountains of Akakawa, where the wind whispers secrets to the trees, there lived a traveler named Ka...

Read the tale →

Yagyō-san

夜行さん

Yokai

In the depths of winter, when the snowflakes fell gently on the mountain roads, a lone traveler named Kaito ventured out...

Read the tale →

Yadōkai

夜道怪

Yokai

In the moonlit hours when shadows danced upon the temple grounds, a lone pilgrim named Kaito sought refuge from the scor...

Read the tale →

Wanyūdō

輪入道

Yokai

In the depths of autumn, when the moon hung low in the midnight sky, the villagers would huddle around their hearths, sh...

Read the tale →

Ushi-oni

牛鬼

Yokai

In the misty coves of Sanuki's eastern shore, where the pines stood sentinel over the restless sea, there lived a fisher...

Read the tale →