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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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