Illustrated yokai folktales

Tanuki

狸

Animal Spirit

In the village nestled between two great mountains, where cherry blossoms bloomed in every corner and koi swam in the qu...

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Tankororin

たんころりん

Yokai

In the village of Kōmori, where the sun dipped into the mountains and painted the sky with hues of crimson and gold, the...

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Tamamo-no-Mae

玉藻前

Yokai

In the shadowed gardens of Heian's imperial court, where cherry blossoms danced in the gentle breeze and lanterns cast a...

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Taka-onna

高女

Yokai

In the streets of Edo's pleasure quarters, where lanterns flickered like fireflies and geishas' laughter echoed through...

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Taimatsumaru

松明丸

Yokai

In the depths of winter, when snowflakes danced around the torches of Kurama's mountain temple, a young monk named Kaito...

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Sōtangitsune

宗旦狐

Fox Spirit

In the moonlit gardens of the Philosopher's Path, where cherry blossoms bloomed in ethereal silence, a young tea master...

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Sōjōbō

僧正坊

Tengu

Deep in the heart of Mount Kurama, where mist veiled the peaks and ancient cedar trees whispered secrets to the wind, th...

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Sōgenbi

叢原火

Ghost

In the misty veil of evening, when the lanterns of Sōgen's temples cast flickering shadows on the ground, I chanced upon...

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Suzaku

朱雀

Dragon

In the sweltering heat of summer's peak, when the sun blazed like a thousand tiny fires across the parched fields and te...

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Suppon-no-yūrei

すっぽんの幽霊

Ghost

In the mist-shrouded valleys of rural Akakawa, there stood an ancient bridge, its weathered stone pilings worn smooth by...

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Sunekosuri

すねこすり

Yokai

On certain nights, when rain pattered against the thatched roofs and mist swirled about the fields, a traveler named Kai...

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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

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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Soraki-gaeshi

空木返し

Phenomenon

Deep in the mountains, where the forest whispered secrets to the wind, there lived a young man named Kaito. He was a woo...

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Soragami

空神

Tengu

In a village nestled between two great mountains, there lived a young farmer named Kaito. He was known for his pride and...

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Son Gokū

孫悟空

Mythical Creature

In the mist-shrouded mountains of Kiso Province, where cedar forests whispered secrets to the wind, a lone traveler appe...

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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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Shōki

鍾馗

Hero

In the village of Akakawa, where cherry blossoms bloomed in profusion and the air was sweet with the scent of blooming s...

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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

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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Shuten-dōji

酒呑童子

Oni

In the depths of Mount Ōe's ancient forest, where mist and moonlight entwined, the Shuten-dōji ruled with terror. His la...

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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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Shishi

獅子

Guardian

In the stillness of dawn, when the misty veil that shrouded the temple grounds began to lift, two Shishi stood vigilant...

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Shisa

シーサー

Guardian

In the village of Yona, where the winds whispered secrets to the trees, there stood a small shrine nestled between two g...

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