Folktales
Illustrated yokai folktales
Panel-art retellings from Japanese folklore. Each tale lives on its creature’s page.
295 illustrated stories
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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Ungaikyō
雲外鏡
Yokai
In the twilight hours, when shadows danced upon the walls and the wind whispered secrets through the trees, a young monk...
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Umibōzu
海坊主
Yokai
In the village of Kurobayashi, where the sea met the shore in a soft caress, fishermen whispered tales of the Umibōzu's...
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Umi-nyōbō
海女房
Yokai
In the mist-shrouded coves of Awa Province, where the waves caress the shore with a soothing melody, there lived a young...
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Uma-no-ashi
馬の脚
Yokai
In the heart of Akakawa Forest, where the mist-shrouded mountains whispered secrets to the wind, travelers often spoke i...
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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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Tōtetsu
饕餮
Yokai
In the forgotten villages nestled between mist-shrouded mountains, there lived an elderly farmer named Hiro. His fields...
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Tōfu-kozō
豆腐小僧
Yokai
In the depths of autumn, when mist crept over the sleepy village, a lone traveler chanced upon a forsaken estate. The on...
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Tsurube-otoshi
釣瓶落とし
Yokai
In the depths of Aka-no-Kawachi forest, where the ancient trees twisted and groaned with age, there lived a legend that...
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Tsurara-onna
氷柱女
Yokai
In the mountains where the snowdrifts reached to the eaves of the houses, there lived a young hunter named Kaito. He was...
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Tsukumogami
付喪神
Yokai
In a small village nestled between two great mountains, there lived a young woodcutter named Kaito. He was known through...
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Tsuchinoko
槌の子
Yokai
In the depths of summer, when the cypress trees are heavy with dew and the cicadas sing their evening songs, I recall th...
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Tsuchikorobi
土転び
Yokai
In the depths of Akakawa Valley, where mist-shrouded mountains meet the sky, there lived a humble traveler named Kaito....
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Tsuchigumo
土蜘蛛
Yokai
In the depths of Akakawa's darkening ravine, where the moonlight struggled to penetrate, a sense of unease settled over...
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Toire-no-Hanakosan
トイレの花子さん
Yokai
In the old schoolhouse, where corridors creaked with age and floors groaned beneath footsteps, there lived a whispered l...
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Tesso
鉄鼠
Yokai
In the depths of a winter's night, when snowflakes danced like tiny ghosts outside the temple walls, I chanced upon an o...
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Tennin
天人
Yokai
In the depths of spring, when cherry blossoms burst forth and new life stirred within the village, a young woodsman name...
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Tenjōname
天井嘗
Yokai
In a small village nestled between the mountains and the sea, there stood an old house that had been abandoned for nigh...
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Tengu
天狗
Yokai
In the mist-shrouded mountains, where ancient trees creaked and swayed in the wind, a lone Tengu named Kaito dwelled. Hi...
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Te-no-me
手の目
Yokai
In a forgotten corner of our village, where the ancient trees creak and sway in the autumn wind, there stood an old grav...
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Tatami-tataki
畳叩き
Yokai
In the depths of autumn, when the wind whispers secrets through the tatami mats of old homes, a gentle soul named Hiro r...
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