Folktales
Illustrated yokai folktales
Panel-art retellings from Japanese folklore. Each tale lives on its creature’s page.
38 illustrated stories
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Abumi-guchi
鐙口
Tsukumogami
In the moonlit hills of Akakawa, where samurai once clashed with honor and steel, an Abumi-guchi stirred. Its tufted bod...
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Abura-akago
油赤子
Yokai
In the quiet hours before dawn, when the moon cast its silvery glow upon the streets of Kyoto, a lone andon lamp flicker...
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Abura-bō
油坊
Yokai
In the fading light of dusk, as the wind whispered secrets to the trees, a lone traveler made her way along the winding...
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Abura-bō
油坊
Yokai
In the depths of summer, when Shiga's mist veiled the lake shores and humid air clung to skin like a damp shroud, it was...
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Akabeko
赤べこ
Animal Spirit
In the village nestled at the foot of the misty mountain, there lived an elderly woodcarver named Kaito. For years, he h...
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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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Akaname
垢嘗
Yokai
In the depths of autumn, when the misty rain clung to the thatched roofs and the air reeked of damp earth, the villagers...
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Akashita
赤舌
Yokai
In the rural province of Mikawa, where paddy fields stretched as far as the eye could see, a wealthy landowner named Shi...
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Akateko
赤手児
Yokai
In a village nestled at the edge of a dense forest, where the misty dawn air clung to the branches like a damp shroud, t...
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Akki
悪鬼
Oni
In the depths of the mountain village, where the air was heavy with mist and the trees creaked with an otherworldly voic...
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Akkorokamui
アッコロカムイ
Yokai
In the dark of winter's night, when the snowflakes swirled like tiny lanterns around the coastal village, a young fisher...
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Akuma
悪魔
Demon
In the depths of winter, when snowflakes danced in the darkness and the forest trees creaked with an otherworldly sigh,...
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Akurojin-no-hi
悪路神の火
Yokai
In the mist-shrouded hills of Mie Prefecture, where the wind whispers secrets to the bamboo groves, there lived an old m...
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Amamehagi
アマメハギ
Oni
In a small village nestled between the mountains of Ishikawa Prefecture, where cherry blossoms bloomed in delicate pink...
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Amanojaku
天邪鬼
Oni
In the small village of Akakawa, nestled between the mountains and the misty sea, there lived a young apprentice blacksm...
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Amanozako
天逆毎
Kami
In the depths of yonder mountains, where the gods themselves dared not tread, there lived an Amanozako named Kagero. Her...
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Amazake-babaa
甘酒婆
Yokai
In the snow-shrouded streets of a mountain town, where cherry blossoms bloomed in unexpected harmony with frosty nights,...
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Amefurikozō
雨降小僧
Yokai
In the village of Akakawa, where rice fields stretched as far as the eye could see, summer's monsoon had finally arrived...
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Amemasu
アメマス
Yokai
In the depths of Lake Toya's crystal waters, where the misty veil of dawn rises, there dwelled the Amemasu. A creature s...
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Ameonna
雨女
Yokai
In the village of Katsuragi, nestled between two great mountains, a gentle yet mournful rain fell for seven days and nig...
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Amikiri
網切
Yokai
In a small village nestled between two great bays, there lived a humble fisherman named Kaito. His family had been netsm...
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Amorōnagu
アモロナグ
Yokai
On a mist-shrouded evening, when the stars had not yet broken through the veil of night, the villagers of Kaze-no-ura ga...
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Anmo
アンモ
Oni
In the depths of winter, when snowflakes danced in the mountain air and village fires crackled with warmth, there lived...
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Aoandon
青行燈
Yokai
In the autumnal twilight, when the wind whispered secrets through the rice fields, the villagers of Sakura-cho would gat...
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